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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "nancy santos" <nancysantos01@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 07:51:47 -0700
Subject: GREETINGS

FROM MRS NANCY SANTOS,
MALAYSIA.

NEED A GODLY PERSON WHO CAN HANDLE US$21M PROJECT IN A CHARITY HOME.

ATTN.
I AM MRS NANCY SANTOS,THE WIFE OF LATE MR EL ZARAH SANTOS.

I AM A WIDOW AND HAVE NO CHILD ALSO ON A SICK BED FACING CANCER OF THE
BREAST WHICH HAS LASTED FOR 9 MONTHS NOW.

BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND HE DEPOSITED US$21M IN A SECURITY COMPANY OUT
SIDE MALAYSIA WITHOUT LETTING ANY OTHER PERSON KNOW EXCEPT ME THE WIFE,HE
MADE THIS MONEY WHEN HE WAS WORKING WITH THE MALAYSIAN CENTRAL PRINTING AND
MINTING COY.AND THE MONEY WAS PACKED IN A DIPLOMATIC BOX AND MOVE THE SAME
WAY DIPLOMATIC TO A SECURITY COMPANY FOR SAFE KEEPING AND TO AVOID HIS
COMPANY NOT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS MONEY.

I AM 59 YEARS NOW AND I AM IN THE LORD BECAUSE ,I WANT WHO WILL GO AND
CLEAR THE CONSIGNMENT OUT FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND USE THE MONEY TO SET
UP A CHARITY HOME AND ALSO ASSIST CHURCHES ,WHO CAN HANDLE THIS MONEY VERY
WELL,I CAN NOT WALK NOW AND I CAN GIVE UP ANY TIME SO I WANT THIS MONEY TO
BE OUT NOW SINCE I HAVE INFORMED THE SECURITY COMPANY ABOUT MY CONDITION
AND SAID THAT ANY PERSON I APPOINT AS MY REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD COME WITH A
LETTER OF AUTHORISATION FROM ME FOR THE CLEARING OF THE CONSIGNMENT.

NOTE THAT THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT THE CONTENT OF THE
CONSIGNMENT IS MONEY ,THEY KNOW IT AS A FAMILY TREASURE SO IS ONLY I AND YOU
THAT KNOWS THE CONTENT OF THE BOX..
YOU CAN SET UP THE CHARITY HOME ANY PLACE OF YOUR CHOICE INCLUDING YOUR
COUNTRY,AM IN THE HOSPITAL NOW SO I WANT GOD TO TAKE GLORY BEFORE I DIE,SO
I WANT THIS MONEY TO BE USED IN THIS WAY SO TAKE IT AS YOUR OWN AS SOON AS
YOU CLEAR IT, YOU PAY IT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AND DEDUCT ANY EXPENCES YOU MADE
IN PROCESS OF GETING THIS OUT INCLUDING YOUR TELEPHONE BILL,,I WANT YOU TO
START THE PROJECT SOON,DUE TO MY HEALTH MY DOCTOR PLACED A KIND OF BED REST
ON MY COMMUNICATION LIMIT.

AWAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS.

MRS NANCY SANTOS


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