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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: "alija_abija3 Gazeta.pl" <alija_abija3@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 12:24:38 +0200
Subject: May Allah bless you


*Dear Friend,
I am Alija Abija Ahmed from Holland. I am married to Dr. Yusuf Ahmed of
united state who worked with Shell Oil Company as oil consultant/contractor
in Africa for twenty years before he died in the year 2005.We were married
for twenty-seven years without a child. He died during one of the riot in
the Niger delta region in Nigeria. He was held hostage and slain to death by
protesting youths of the region.

Before his death we were both Muslims. Since his death I decided not to
re-marry. When my late husband was alive he made a numbered time (Fixed)
deposited for twelve calendar months, valued at GBP8m (Eight Million British
Pounds) with account number GB67800046. With a Bank In London United Kigdom.
Meanwhile, this money is still with the bank and the management just wrote
me as the beneficiary to come forward to receive the money or rather issue a
letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I can not
come over.

Presently, I am with my laptop in a hospital in South Africa where I have
been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. I have since lost my
ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to
live. It is my last wish to see that this money is invested and proceed at
the end of every year distributed among charity organization.

I want a person that is Allah fearing that will use this money to fund
Musque, orphanages and widows propagating the word of Allah and to ensure
that the house of Allah is maintained. I am made to understand that blessed
is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I know that there are
a lot of poor people suffering from different kind of disease and nobody to
come to
their aid. With Allah all things are possible.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
financial firm. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove
you as the new beneficiary of this fund. You are to help me invest this fund
into real estate and stocks.

You will be entitled to 40% of every profit you make in a year. Please
assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated here in.

Hoping to hearing from you soon. In your response to me, please include your
telephone and fax
number and also your mailing address.
Reply to my email. **alija_abija@hotmail.com* <alija_abija@hotmail.com>*
Alija Abija Ahmed. *

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