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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: zayed sultan <zayedsultan1@netscape.net>
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 11:51:29 +0200
Subject: email 7-04-06

Dear Friend,

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe
everyone will die someday. My name is Zayed Sultan a merchant in London, the
United Kingdom 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 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
Algeria 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
contended with what I have left
for them.

The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of eight
million united states dollars $8,000,000,00 that I have with a
finance/Security Company abroad. I
will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity
organizations. I have also set out
10% of this money to be giving to the less privileged in Sri lanka,indonesia
and Thailand 15% has being
set aside for you and for your time.

You are to respond through my personal and safe email address. God be with
you.

Email: zayedsultan@netscape.net

Regards,

Mr. Zayed Sultan.


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