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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: "Allen Christopher" <allenchristopher03@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: allenchristopher04@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 08:50:31 +0000
Subject: YOUR REPLY IS NEEDED.

Dear friend,
As you read this, I do not want you to feel sorry
for me, because I believe everyone will die someday.
Mr.Robert, a merchant in London, United Kingdom. I
have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and have
been in the hospital for a very long time. It
has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right
now I have about few months to live, according to
the medical experts.

I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I
never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but
my business and wealth. 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 till date. Now that God is
calling me, I have willed and shared most of my
properties and assets to my immediate and extended
family members,including 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 before Gods call. So far, I
have distributed money to some charity organizations
in the U.K, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has been
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 Two million dollars united
states dollars ($2.000.000) that I have with a
finance and trust Company in Europe . I would want
you to help me to collect this deposit on my behalf
and distribute it to charity organizations in your
country.

I would want you to keep 25% of the funds to
yourself and share the rest to charity organizations
in your country. Reply this email as soon as
possible even if you are not capable to handle this
transaction on my behalf. My regards and Love to you
and your family members.

God be with you,
Mr: Allen


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