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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: Austin Ban <austinban@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 00:50:18 -0700
Subject: You are Blessed

You are Blessed.

Dear Friend,
I am MRS AUGUSTINA BAN, I want to donate what I have to the needy. You
Could
be surprised why i picked you. But someone has to do it.I am old and living
with
HIV AIDS AND CANCER. I have been touched to donate from what I have
inherited
from my late husband to charity through you for the good work of humanity,
rather than allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds
inappropriately.

I hope to be forgiven for all my sins and I believe he has, because He is
merciful. I have been living with HIV AIDS for years. and i know that the
disease has no cure therefore i will surely die.

I have made up my mind to give out (Fifteen million united state dollars)
towards the fight against HIV AIDS and CANCER, and other human related
diseases.
I want this to be done through you. Part of the money would also be used to
help
the motherless, less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows.
Presently, i can not answer calls due to the fact that my relatives are
around
me and I have been restricted by my doctor from taking telephone calls
because I
deserve all the rest I can get.

Presently,I have informed my lawyer about my decision in donating the
funds.I
wish you all the best, and please use the money well and always extend the
good
work to others. If you are able to carry out this task,i will inform my
legal
adviser so that he can arrange the release of the funds to you. I know i
have
never met you but my mind tells me to do this,and I hope you act sincerely.I
will pay you a handsome amount of this money if you will assist me because I
am
now weak to do things myself because of my HIV AIDS.

NB: I will appreciate your utmost secrecy in this matter until the task is
carried out,as I don't want anything that will halter this my last wish.

Love,
MRS AUGUSTINA BAN.

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