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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: "219.238.241.5" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 16:43:14 +0200
Subject: Use It For God & Charity Work Please !!

Dear Sir/Madam,

Good day and God bless you. I feel quite safe and satisfy dealing with you in this charity project. Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, but I choose to reach you through it because it still remain the fastest and better medium of communications.
However, this correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as such.
Do not feel sorry for me as you read this mail because, I believe everyone will die someday.
My name is MR. FAROUQ USMAN, a merchant from Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer, it has defiled all forms of medical treatments, and right now I have just some few months to live, according to medical experts.

I did not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though very successful and rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and just focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared about. But I regret all that now because, I have realised that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in this world. If God gives me a second chance to come to this world I hope to live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my assets and properties to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends.

I pray God to be merciful to me and accept my soul I have therefore decided to give alms to charity organizations, So that this will be one of my last good deeds done on earth. So far, I have donated money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria, Malaysia and some disaster affected countries. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to empty one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to some charity organizations in Bulgaria and Pakistan; they did not instead kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them.

The last of my money which no one knows of is the cash deposit of $22, 000,000.00 (TWENTY-TWO MILLION DOLLARS) only which I have with a finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit money as the new beneficiary and dispatched it to charity organizations, or rather use it to promote God's work as the case may be. You will take 20% of the total sum for your time and efforts to help, 10% will be used for the all unforeseen expenses that you may incur during this transaction and the remaining 70% will be put to Charity or God's work, as advised by me.

(1) To fund / propagate the work of God (Building and maintaining the house of God with the money)
(2) To help the Orphanage, Widows and the less privilege in the Society.

"I don't want any telephone communication in this regard because of my health and the presence some of my relatives sometimes around me since I do not want them to know about this development". You can always reach me on my email: farouqusman@aim.com, for more clarification

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contacts of my lawyer in Europe, who will advice by giving you guidelines and the contacts of the finance house. He will help you also to up-grade the documents and rights of ownership in your name and also all the necessary information regarding the deposited funds. He will also issue a letter of authority that will empower you to become the beneficiary of the deposited funds.

I want you to always pray for me because God work in mysterious ways.

Remain blessed in the name of God.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Farouq Usman.

N.B., Reply To email: farouqusman@aim.com,

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