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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: mail001@ghadakhoury.net
Reply-To: avmail033@aim.com
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 06:24:12 +0000
Subject: DIVINE FAVOUR FOR LOVE FOR HUMANITY.



From: Alvarol Villarreal
Email: avmail033@aim.com
Kindest Attention:
My name is Mr.Alvaro Villarreal, I am from Portugal . 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 wantingto 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 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 U.A.E, Somalia 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 Vaulting Unit
Abroad.
I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it
to charity organizations.

N/B:
Kindly note that 35% of this funds must go to the tsunami victims,60%
to other Charity Organization and 5% for your effort and time.
I cannot talk with you on the phone due to my health situation, as I am
using my Lap Top Computer to communicate with you. You should respond
to this e-mail{avmail033@aim.com}or(alvarol05@aim.com) if
you are interested in carrying out this assignment on my behalf.
God be with you.
Mr. Alvaro Villarreal.

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