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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: "Mahmoud Sheradeh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mshr0809@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:39:32 -0800
Subject: My Belove Friend.

My Belove Friend.

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mahmoud Sheradeh, a merchant
in United Kingdom. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer which was
discovered very late, due to my laxity in Caring for my health. It has
defiled all forms of medicine, 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 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 wanting to 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.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my properties
and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a
few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul. I
have decided to give arms to charity organizations and give succor and
comfort to the less privileged in our societies, as I want 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, Algeria and Malaysia and West Africa. 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 thereto charity organization and To the less privileged 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
Fourteen Million Dollars Only(US$14M) that I have deposited in Europe for
safe keeping. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and disburse
it to some charity organizations and to the less privileged.I deposited
the money with them as Personal Effects and Jewelries; no one knows the
content of the deposit.

Please send me a mail to indicate if you are willing to assist me in the
disbursement.I have set aside 20% for you for your time and patience.While
I wait to hear from you, may God be with you and your entire family.
Remain blessed. Send me your:Full Names: Home/Office Address: CellPhone:
Home Tel No: Age:Sex: Marital Status: Occupation

Please get back to me only via my personal mail id:(mshr0809@yahoo.cn)

Best Regard,
Mahmoud Sheradeh
Email:mshr0809@yahoo.cn

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