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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: "MR.SMITH SHAW" <buharihim@donationforcharity.org>
Reply-To: smithshawn1@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 07 Sep 2005 19:53:38 +0000
Subject: Charity Assistance

Hello

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, I choose to reach you through it because it
still remains the fastest, surest and most secured
medium of communication. However, this correspondence
is purely private, and it should be treated as such.

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for
me because i believe everyone will die someday. My
name is Smith Shaw, a merchant in Dubai U.A.E.

I have been diagnosed with HIV?AIDS. It has defiled
all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have
only about a few months to live, according to medical
experts. I have not particularly lived my life so
well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even
myself) 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.

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
Indian, Sudan 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 15 million united states dollars
that I have with a finance Company abroad. I will want
you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it
to charity organizations. I have set aside 20% for you
and for your time. God be with you.
Regards,
Smith Shaw.
smithshawn1@gmail.com


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