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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: BETTY <schafferjeanbetty39@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:53:46 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS


I am Betty Jane Schaffer, a businesswoman from Iowa, a state in the
Midwestern region of the United States, dealing with Gold business in
London, United Kingdom. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which the
doctors have confirmed that I have a few weeks to live.

Right now, I do not have any family members, and I have no children, I have
decided to hand over the sum of ( £ 4.5 Million pounds) from my bank
account here with Barclays Bank of London to you for the help of orphanages
and poor widows in your country to fulfill my dreams.

If you are really interested in my proposal further details of the transfer
will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your willingness mail for a
successful transfer.

Anti-fraud resources: