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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Elizabeth Patton" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.elizabeth.patton@onionmail.org>
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2023 10:43:44 -0800
Subject: Re: May God Bless You

Beloved One,

I found your e-mail address through an online search.

We don't know each other, but my spirit led me to write you this email.

I am dying from cancer, and I'm writing from my sick bed.

I want to donate $2,400,000 United States dollars to you for charity work.

I want you to use the funds for charity causes, while 15% will be yours to keep as compensation for taking on this responsibility to help mankind.

I will wait to hear from you to see if you can handle this task with honesty and in good faith.

Warm wishes.
Mrs. Elizabeth Patton

Anti-fraud resources: