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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: "mike smith" <mikesmithloveallcharity1@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 00:26:53 +0000
Subject: YOUR WORK FOR CHARITY

Dear friend,
This letter may come to you as a

surprise due to the
fact
that we have not yet met. I have to

say that I
have no intentions of
causing you any pains. As you
read this, I don't want you to feel

sorry
for me,
because, I believe everyone will die

someday. My name
is Mr
Mike Smith, a merchant in london, but

taking treatment now.
now I have
been diagnosed with prostate and

esophageal
cancer that was discovered
very late due to my laxity
in caring for my health. It has defiled

all
form of
medicine 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 focus on my
business as that was the only
thing I caredfor. 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 I know my time is near, I have

willed and given
most of my
properties and assets to my immediate

and
extended family members and
as well as a few close
friends.
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 Asia, London and
Ireland. Now that my health has

deteriorated so
badly,
I cannot do this my self any more. I

once asked
members of my
family to close one of my accounts and
donate the money, which I have
there to charity
organization in Bulgaria, they refused

and kept the
money to themselves. Hence, I do not

trustthem
anymore, as they seem
not to be contended with what I
have left for them. The last of my
money which is the
huge cash deposit that I have with

security firm
Abroad .I will want you to help me

collect this
deposit and dispatched
it to charity organizations and
let them know that it is I Mike Smith
that is making
this generous donation. I am writing

this from my
laptop
computer in my hospital bed where I

wait for my
time to come. I pray
for you to support and
assist me with good heart.
be blessed my
beloved,
mike Smith.
please if you would help me realise

this, i will
appreciate your reply in my very
confidential email :
mikesmithcharityorg@myway.com


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