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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: "Rafiq Rehman" <rfqrehman@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:43:55 +0000
Subject: Greetings,Please read carefully.

Greetings dear,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not
met before. I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you any pains
so I decided to contact you through this medium. As you read this, I don't
want you to feel bad about the situation because I believe everyone will die
someday.

My name is Rafiq Rehman a merchant in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates
(UAE).I have been diagnosed with prostate and esophageal cancer that was
discovered very late due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has
defiled all forms of medication 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.
Although I am very rich, I was never generous, never willing to spare time
and help people but only focused on my business as that was the only thing I
cared for. Now I regret all these 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 if
God gives me a second chance I would live my life a different way and lead a
better life.

Now that I know my time is near, I have willed and given most of my
properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as
a few close friends and schools in the UAE.

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 donated money to
some
charity organizations in the U.A.E, London and Ireland. Now that my health
has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself any more. I once asked
members of my family to close one of my accounts and donate the money to
charity organizations in Bulgaria but they tricked me and embezzled the
money. 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 is the huge cash
deposit that I have with Financial Firm Abroad .I will want you to help me
collect this deposit and distribute it to charity organizations and let them
know that I, Rafiq Rehman am making this generous donation.

I am writing this from my laptop computer in my hospital bed where I wait
for my time to come since the sickness has bedridden me for several months.
I pray that God uses you to support and assist me in good heart.

God be with you
Mr. Rafiq Rehman

Please reply to: rfqrehman1@aol.com

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is accomplished as I do not want anything or anybody that will
jeopardize my last wish. And Also I will be contacting with you by email as
I don’t want anybody to know because they are always around me. Do endeavor
to send your phone as well as your fax for easy communication.



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