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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: "steve bastiaan" <steve_bastiaan@msn.com>
Reply-To: sbastiaan222@uymail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 10:42:35 +0000
Subject: Waiting

Dear Friend,

I am Steve Bastiaan,a merchant in Dubai, in the
U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer
which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in
carrying for my health. It has defiled all forms 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
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 want God to be merciful to
me and ac cept my soul and so, I have decided to give alms
to charity organizations and give succour and confort to the
less priviledged in our societies, as I want this to be one
of the last good deeds I do on earth.

Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do
this my self anymore.The last of my money which no one knows
of is the huge cash deposit of ten million dollars($10M) that I
have in Europe for safe keeping. I will want you to help me collect
this deposit and disburse it to some charity organizations
and to the less priviledged.

Please send me a mail to indicate if you will assist
me in this disbursement.I have set aside 10% for
you for your time and patience.

While I await to hear from you, may God be with you
and your entire family.

Remain blessed,

Steve Bastiaan.


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