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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: "Lady Helen Crawford" <ladyhelencrawford_funds4charity@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ladyhelencrawford_fund4charity@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 09:19:13 -0500 (PET)
Subject: Humanitarian Call.

Dearly Beloved,

I'm 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,
2008. 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 cannot help themselves due to physical disability or
financial predicament. I can adduce 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.

Four days ago, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live, due to
the cancerous problems that i have been suffering from. what bothers me
most is the stroke that I have in addition with the cancer. Hence, with
the hard reality that has befallen my family and i, i have decided to
donate the funds to you and i want you to use the 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 the bold decision to contact you because, I do not have any child
that will inherit the money and my late husband relatives are bourgeois
and very wealthy persons that will misuse and invest the money into ill
perceived ventures if willed to them, instead of helping the poor in a
worldly manner. I do not need any telephone communication in this regard,
due to my deteriorating health and 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
Talmud Crawford, my late husband immediate younger brother.

So, i want you to Contact my family lawyer Barrister Paul Westley
(apaul_law.firm@live.com) +44 703 188 8493 and tell him that I have WILLED
the funds to you by quoting my personal reference number
Law/chamber/solicitors/rt/cfd/WILL/9834520012, as i have earlier
authorized him to issue a Letter of Authority in your favor to the
Security Company handling the stocks by telling them that I have WILLED
the 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 the
trust funds. Please ensure to provide for him all that he may require to
finalize the 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.

Remain blessed, from your beloved Sister.
Lady Helen Crawford.





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