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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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Fraud email example:

From: "bernhand bernhand jr" <bernhandd@msn.com>
Reply-To: bernhandd@web2mail.com
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 01:10:33 +0000
Subject: From Mr Bernhand Jnr !!!!!!!!





Hello,

My name is Bernhand Bernhand Jr, a British national I have been diagnosed
with esophageal cancer .It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and
right now I have only about a few months to live, according to
medicalexperts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never
really cared for anyone (not evenmyself) but my business. Though I am very
rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused
on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all
this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or
make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance
to come to this world I would 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 property and
assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close
friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have
decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of
the last good deeds I do on earth.

So far, I have Distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E,
Somalia Malaysia and some african countries. Now that my health has
deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked
members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money
which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they
refused and 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 huge cash deposit of
Twenty Million dollars
($20,000,000,00) that I have with an Asset Management/Finance Company
abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and despatch it to
charity organizations.

N/B:KINDLY NOTE THAT 20% of this funds must go to the tsunami victims and
another 20% for your effor and time, while the 60% will be for my
humanitarian services.

God be with you.

BERNHAND BERNHAND JNR.


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