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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: "Ladyhelencrawford" <ladyhelencrawford_funds16@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: attorneypaul_lawfirms@live.com
Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 12:09:58 -0300
Subject: MY NOBLE WISH............."Crawford Charity Foundation"

Dearly Beloved,

I am Lady Helen Crawford, suffering from cancerous ailment. I was married to
Sir William Crawford an English shipping tycoon notable for his great wealth,
influential extended family, and charitable activities all his life before
his death. My husband died after a protracted illness in April 5th, 2006. Our
life together as husband and wife lasted for about three decades without a
child.

My late husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-
privileged individuals in the society, as we both had passion for those
people who can not help themselves due to physical disability or financial
predicament. I can adduce this to the fact that we both needed a Child from
this relationship, which never came. When my late husband was alive he
invested in stocks the sum of Twenty Five Million Pounds Sterling
(25,000,000.00 GBP), which were derived from his vast investment in capital
market with a Security Company here in UK and named me as the sole
beneficiary of this trust funds upon his demise.(all records are kept with my
family lawyer).

Presently, this funds is still with the Security Company. Two weeks ago my
Doctor told me that I have limited days to live, due to the cancerous
problems that i have been suffering from. Though what bothers me most is the
stroke that I have in addition with the cancer. Hence, with this hard reality
that has befallen my family and me, i have decided to donate this funds to
you and i want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to
establish a charity home called "Crawford Charity Foundation" for the upkeep
of widows, orphans, destitute, the down- trodden, physically challenged
children, barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped
financially around you, as it is often said that blessed is the hand that
giveth.

I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this
money and my husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I
do not want my husband's hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill
perceived ventures. Also i do not want a situation where this funds will be
used in a worldly manner, hence my reason for taking this bold decision. I do
not need any telephone communication in this regard due to my deteriorating
health and because of the presence of my husband relatives around me, as i am
currently bedridden in my husband Family house here in Manchester, England
and do not receive any visitors unless approved by Sir Talmund Crawford, my
late husband immediate younger brother. I do not want them to know about this
development in order to safegurad this bequeast.

So, i want you to Contact my family lawyer Barrister Paul Westley (ESQ) with
this specified email address: attorneypaul_lawfirms@live.com and tell him
that I have WILLED this funds to you by quoting my personal reference number
Law/chamber/solicitors/rt/cfd/WILL/9834520012, as i have earlier authorised
him to issue a Letter of Authority in your favour to the Security Company
handling this stocks by telling them that I have WILLED this funds to you for
a specific purpose and good work. He will also endorse my WILL, where you
will be named as the sole beneficiary of this trust funds. Please ensure to
provide for him all that he may require to finalise this arrangement, and
make sure you maintain a confidential and cordial relationship with him even
in my absence, because he is a very trust worthy and caring person.

My happiness today is that I lived a life worthy of emulation and i want you
to be kindhearted all through your life. Please, assure me that you will act
just as I have stated herein, as i hope to hear from him soon that you have
contacted him with his personal email address that i have given to you above.
Hence, he is currently waiting to receive your reply.

your beloved Sister.

Lady Helen Crawford



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