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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: peter@jamespeter7.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:00:15 +0100 (CET)
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME.


PLEASE HELP ME.

Dear Friend,
Firstly, I wish you the very best wishes of good health and Success. I also
enjoin you not to wonder as 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 worries as I decided to contact you through this medium.
As you read this, I don't want you to feel SORRY or PITY for me because I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mr James Robin, a merchant in
Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been diagnosed with prostate and esophageal
Cancer that was discovered lately due to my laxity in caring for my health.
It has defiled all forms of medicine and right now, I have only about 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 mybusiness. I wasn't too generous, I was always
hostile to people and only focused on my businesses 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 live in this world I would live
my life a different way from how I have lived it.
However, now that I know my time is near, I have decided to give alms to
charity organizations and people, as I want this to be one of the last good
deeds I do on earth.I have willed and given most of my properties and assets
to some orphanages as well as some Schools in the U.A.E. Now that my health
has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself any more. The last of my
money, which I planned to use in openning a shopping complex in London is a
huge cash deposited with a Financial
Security Firm abroad, I want to donate it to any worthy,charity
organisation, hence my contacting you with blind trust having been led by my
intuition of goodwill.
MY REQUEST
As a result of my present health situation, I am looking for a trustworthy
individual/firm to help me collect this deposited funds with the Financial
Firm abroad and dispatch it to charity organizations and
let them know that I, Mr James Robin, is making this generous donation as a
dying man's last wish. I am writing this from my laptop computer in my
hospital bed where I wait for my time to come. I pray that God uses you to
support and assist me with good heart.
COMMISSION/REMUNERATION
As regards your commission/remuneration, I have decided to offer you 25% of
the total sum and also set aside 5% for all your expenses (i.e for any
expenses that will be incure during the process of this project).I strongly
believe that associating with you to embark on this, will derive a huge
successhereafter and it will mark a lasting bond for you and profound joy
for me. If you are willing to assist me I will be expecting your response.
Please write me through my private e-mail account:
petjam@myway.com
I await your anticipated co-operation.
Sincerely,
Mr Peter James.
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is accomplished because I do not want anything that will Jeopadize my
last wish, as I do not want my family people to know about this because 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 trust them anymore, as
they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. I will be
communicating with you by email as I do not want anybody(my medical staff)
to know what I am up to as they are always around me.

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