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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Robert Saeed. <nkonondiaye@netscape.net>
Reply-To: saeedrobert@netscape.net
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 22:54:44 +0200
Subject: Orphanage.


CONFIDENTIAL MESSAGE
FROM:ROBERT SAEED
Email:saeedrobert@netscape.net

MY NAME IS ROBERT SAEED AHMED. I AM A 65 YEARS OLD MAN FROM DUBAI (UNITED ARAB EMIRATE). I OWNED TWO BUSINESSES IN DUBAI. I WAS MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN.MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN DIED IN TERRORIST ATTACK ON OUR WESTERN NEIBOURHOOD ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF DUBAI.
I AM CURRENTLY IN A LONDON HOSPITAL RECEIVINGTREATMENT. EVER SINCE,
I HAVE BEEN HELPING ORHANS IN ORPHANAGE/MOTHERLESS HOMES.
I HAVE DONATED SOME MONEY TO THE ORPHANS IN SUDAN, SOUTH AFRICA,
CAMEROON, BRAZIL, LONDON, AUSTRIA AND GERMANY,BEFORE I BE CAME ILL.
I SENT SOME MONEY {$5.5MILLION DOLLARS} FIVE MILLION, FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TWO BOXES THROUGH ONE SECURITY COMPANY.
THE MONEY IS PRESENTLY WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY IN ROTTERDAM
{HOLLAND}.
PRESENTLY,I AM IN A HOSPITAL IN LONDON. MY DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT
I HAVE CANCER OF THE LUNGS THAT I HAVE FEW MONTHS TO LIVE. PLEASE,
I BEG YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD TO HELP ME COLLECT THE BOX FROM THE
SECURITY COMPANY IN AMSTERDAM. AFTER COLLECTING THE MONEY IN THE BOX
FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY IN AMSTERDAM, YOU WILL NOW HELP ME TO TAKE
THE MONEY (5.5 MILLION} IN THE BOX TO ONE ORHANAGE HOME IN AMERICA
OR ANY ORPHANAGE HOME CLOSE TO YOU.
I AM OFFERING YOU 20%OF THE TOTAL SUM OF $5.5MILLION, 5% IS FOR
ANY EXPENSES INCURED BY YOU. MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY. I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
BEST REGARDS.
ROBERT SAEED AHMED

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