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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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Kenneth Oweta" <kenoweta@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: kenoweta@box.az
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 15:57:58 +0000
Subject: For humanity

Hello,
My name is Kenneth Oweta, a nationality of United Kingdom, I want you to
note that this mail is not a SPAM, but rather a service to humanity. 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 arms 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, Somalia 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
contempted with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one
knows of is the huge cash deposit of forty two Million dollars ($42,000,
000, 00) that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you
to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations. I
have set aside 20% for you and for your time. NB;If you can do this work for
me, pls get back to me as soon as possible.
My best Regards.
Kenneth Oweta.


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