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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: SAZON FERNANDO <sazo1414@netscape.net>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:40:18 +0200
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Dear Friend,
As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me because,
I believe everyone will die someday. My name is SAZON FERNANDO
a merchant philipines .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 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. So far, I have
distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E,
Algeria and Malaysia. 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 eighteen
million dollars $18,000.000 that I have with a finance/Security
Firm abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and
dispatch it to charity organizations.

I have set aside 20% for you for your time and patience. please
send a reply through this email address with your full contact
telephone/fax numbers for confidential verbal details.
God be with you.

SAZON FERNANDO


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