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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: "Rita Surti" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infoin@gmail.hu>
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:07:54 -0700
Subject: NOTE!!!

Beloved
 
I am writing to you with deep pain and sorrow in my heart,  I am very sorry to contact you this way. My name is Mrs. Rita Surti, a widow without a child of my own and been married for 15 yrs to my husband.  I've been suffering from stage 4 for the last 8years, and I've been in and out of the hospital for 2 years. I'm at the hospital right now. After consulting a doctor last week, He told me that I cannot live for the next one month.
 
What is painful is that my husband died the same way after suffering from a heart problem. Before the sudden death of my husband, we have agreed to establish a charitable foundation that will help life and people in need. My deceased husband has deposited an amount of money with one of the banks here in the United States, with my name as the only nearest family member.
 
But now that he is dead, I want his soul to be happy wherever he is, so we end our final decision on using the money to build a charity institution in your country. So I ask you to help me with the use of this fund when building a charity institution in your country and world in general. I want you to take 25% of the total amount for yourself. Yes, be happy that you have accepted this project in your own country.
 
I'm waiting for your direct answer
Mrs. Rita Surti

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