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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: fatima ohikere <fatohik@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 17:01:10 +0200
Subject: PLEASE HELP WITH YOUR WIDOW'S MITE


DEAR SIR/MADAM,
I GREET YOU IN THE NAME OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD,MY NAME IS FATIMA, I AM AN OPHAN, MY PARENTS DIED THREE YEARS AGO, I HAVE TWO OTHER JUNIOR ONES THAT MY PARENTS LEFT, BUT THE LAST WHO IS MY BROTHER HAMMED IS SEVERELY SICK BECAUSE HE HAS A HOLE IN HIS HEART, I HAVE SINCE BEEN TRYING TO RAISE FUND FOR HIS OPERATION BUT ALL TO NO AVAIL, I CHOSE THIS MEDIUM TO CRY TO THE WHOLE WORLD FOR KIND ASSISTANCE AND I PRAY GOD TOUCHES YOUR HEART TO HELP ME SOLVE THIS MY BROTHER'S HEALTH PROBLEM.
I HAVE MANAGED TO TRAVEL TO ITALY TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE ANY MEANS TO SAVE MY BROTHER'S LIFE, PLEASE I DONT WANT HIM TO DIE, HE IS JUST 14 YEARS OF AGE, OUR PARENTS DIED IN SEARCH OF ASSISTANCE TO HELP HIM OUT AND UP TILL THIS MOMENT I AM WRITING YOU, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE WHO CAN ASSIT US TO SAVE HIS LIFE, HIS CONDITION OF HEALTH IS DETERIORATING, THE OPERATION AND HOW TO TAKE HIM OUT OF AFRICA TO EUROPE FOR THE OPERATION WILL COST US ABOUT 180,000 EURO.
PLEASE, NOTHING IS TOO SMALL, EVEN IF IT IS 10 EURO YOU CAN GIVE TO ASSIST IN SAVING MY BROTHER'S LIFE, WE WILL SO MUCH APPRECIATE ALL YOUR KINDNESS TOWARDS US. I DONT WANT HIM TO DIE, PLEASE HELP ME.
A GOOD SAMARITAN LIKE YOU HAS HELPED US TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT WHERE YOU CAN GIVE US ANY TOKEN FROM YOUR HEART TO HELP US AND BY DOING SO, GOD IN HIS INFINITE MERCIES WILL BLESS YOU MORE ABUNDANTLY, PROTECT AND GUIDE YOUR FAMILY. (AMEN)

PLEASE, HELP US SEND ANY AMOUNT TO THIS ACCOUNT:
BANK NAME: BANCA CARIGE
ADDRESS: AGENZIA 2 - TORINO
VIA BORGARO 119
10149 TORINO - ITALY
BENEFICIARY: FATIMA OHIKERE
ACCOUNT NO: 24380
COD, 282 - ABI 06175.4
CAB: 01002.5
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND ASSISTANCE IN SAVING MY BROTHER'S LIFE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.
SINCERELY YOURS,
FATIMA OHIKERE

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