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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: "mrs.gifty@terra.es" <mrs.gifty@terra.es>
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2007 21:12:50 +0100 (MET)
Subject: HELP THE LESS-PRIVILEGED


DEAREST,

HOPE YOU ARE GOOD OVER THERE. I AM SORRY IF I AM INTRUDING INTO YOUR
PRIVACY BY CONTACTING YOU SINCE I DO NOT KNOW YOU PHYSICALLY. THE FACT IS
THAT I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE SPIRIT OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE TO YOU
KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT YOU WILL FAIR ENOUGH TO RESPOND TO THIS TASK
THAT I SHALL BE PUTTING FORWARD TO YOU.

AS YOU RIGHTLY KNOW, OUR TODAY'S WORLD IS GOVERN BY GREED, WICKEDNESS,
HOSTILITY AND HATRED. PEOPLE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DEALING WITH CLOSE
FRIENDS, RELATIVES ,NEIGHBOURS AND LOVED ONES. TRUST ARE BETRAYED BY
PEOPLE YOU LEAST EXPECTED.

I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT INTRODUCING MYSELF TO YOU BEFORE NOW. MY NAME IS
Mrs. GIFTY FROM RIYAHD ,SAUDI ARABIA. I DO NOT FANCY RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION SO IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE THAT THINK YOUR RELIGION OR RACE IS
SUPERIOR TO THAT OF OTHER PERSONS, PLEASE DO ME THE FAVOUR OF NOT REPLYING
THIS MAIL.

I HAVE SPENT 57 GOOD YEARS IN THIS WORLD AND HAVE WITNESS THE GOOD,
THE BAD AND THE UGLY SIDES OF LIFE. I HAVE LEARNT NOT TO VIEW LIFE FROM
JUST A SINGLE PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE.

MY REASON FOR CONTACTING YOU IS TO COMBINE OUR IDEAS AND DEDICATION TO
TOUCH THE LIVES OF THE LESS-PRIVILEGE IN SOME PART OF THE WORLD SO
THAT A GOOD LEGACY WILL BE LEFT BEHIND AFTER OUR TIME ON EARTH. I AM
ACTUALLY IN THE HOSPITAL SENDING THIS MAIL TO YOU AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED
ONE TRAUMA AFTER THE OTHER. MEDICAL EXPERTS HERE HAVE INFORMED ME I
MIGHT NEVER LIVED TO SURVIVE THIS AILMENT THAT HAS PLAGUED THE LAST FEW
YEARS OF MY LIFE. THIS IS BECAUSE THIS DEADLY AILMENT HAS AFFECTED MY
MOST VITAL INTERNAL ORGANS.

SOMEHOW, I NOW FEEL SAFER DEALING WITH STRANGERS THAN PEOPLE I KNOW
DUE TO CONSTANT BETRAYALS I RECEIVE FROM LOVED ONES. THIS DAYS ONLY FEW
THINK ABOUT ASSISTING ORPHANAGE HOMES AND OTHER CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS
AROUND THE WORLD DUE TO SELF-CENT REDNESS. THE RICH ARE GETTING RICHER AT
THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR.

PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS MAIL AS SOON AS YOU FINISH READING TO LET ME
KNOW YOUR OPINION ABOUT ASSISTING THE LESS-PRIVILEGED AND IF YOU HAVE
EVER GIVEN IT A THOUGHT TO HELP THEM ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. I HAVE A
DREAM TO SHARE WITH YOU AND I HOPE AND PRAY I AM COMMUNICATING WITH THE
RIGHT PERSON.

THANKS FOR NOW AS I AWAIT YOUR SOONEST RESPONSE WITH:
YOUR FULL NAMES, ADDRESS,PHONE/FAX NUMBER AND YOUR COUNTRY. YOUR
RESPONSE SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE BELOW ADDRESS:
mrs.gifty@bigstring.com

THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED RESPONSE AND DO HAVE A GREAT DAY !!!

REGARDS.

Mrs Gifty





Ahora tambi&eacute;n puedes acceder a tu correo Terra desde el m&oacute;vil.

Inf&oacute;rmate en www.terra.es/correo.






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