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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: "Dr. Eric Gillet" <wunschwohnung@berlinovo.de>
Reply-To: eric.gillet@aol.com
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2024 13:10:17 -0800
Subject: Respond to me, if you're still alive

Attention-Beneficiary:
In the course of my duty I ran into a file depicting an unclaimed benefit bequeathed to you by a late relative which has been overdue for payment but placed in abeyance for inexplicable reasons.
Are you still alive? Can you please explain why you have decided to sign off the benefit to one Mr. Pavel Moskvitin, a Ukrainian? Your payment file was designated as an unclaimed benefit due for confiscation with reasons that it was discovered that one Mr. Pavel Moskvitin who, by my personal investigation had connived with other accomplices to divert the said benefit into a bank account domiciled in Ukraine.
To recover the funds, please, get back to me with the following details:
1. your full name as the beneficiary
2. the total amount due to you
3. your contact/mailing address &
4. endeavour to avail me with any relevant document at your disposal
The above will enable me to ratify your file and facilitate your payment. And, please, may you let me know if it was your decision to give out the funds! More so, it was stated that you are late! Talk to me if you are still alive, please.
Send your responds to my direct personal email: eric.gillet@aol.com
Regards,
Eric Gillet, PhD

Anti-fraud resources: