419 scam: ilhan savtur <savturilhan@yahoo.com> I urgently need your financial assistance!

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: ilhan savtur <savturilhan@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I urgently need your financial assistance!

I hope you are well. Am in a great sorrow writing you this note, Just wanted inform you about something very important, I could barely think or type straight at this point, I hope you come to my aid. something very terrible is happening to me now, I need a favor from you urgently, I had a trip here in Nigeria for a Seminar. Unfortunately for me all my money got stolen on my way to the hotel where i lodged along with my Cell phone, bag where my passport was and since then i have been without any money, I am even owing the hotel here. So i have limited access to emails for now, I urgently need your financial assistance. The total sum of money that i would need would be $2,500 to sort-out my hotel bills so i can make arrangements and return back, I am full of panic now, the police only asked me to write a statement about the incident and directed me to the embassy, I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding to the matter effectively, I
will return the money back to you as soon as i get home, I am so confused right now. I wasn't injured because I complied immediately. I will be waiting to hear from you so I can send you the western union information to use in sending the money. Peace & Joy.

Best Regards

ilhan savtur

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam