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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: Aminatu Hayatu <aminatuhayatu@despeeple.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:37:38 -0800 (PST)
Subject: To A Trustworthy Fellow.


To A Trustworthy Fellow.
 
That I am alive today is something of a miracle because, the Physicians have clearly stated to me I have very little time to live. I was diagnosed of Cardiac Arrhythmia: A heart failure condition that is serious and has no cure, but you can live a full and enjoyable life with the right treatment and active attention to your lifestyle. Unluckily for me, mine was not detected early enough to leave me with any glimpse of survival. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone.
 
I am a mixed Canadian woman in my early 50's. I was married to a man for 16 years who worked selflessly for a major production company in the United Kingdom . While we lived there he did work with them for over ten (10) years and joined with side trading activities before sadly in the year 2008 he got sick and passed away after 2 weeks illness, it was painful to see him go.. The most painful aspect was a child did not come to us before his sad end and the only baby child we adopted died at 3 years. I had vowed never to re-marry as my respect for our cherished union. During his (my husband) working days, he has made some deposit to his Bank Account and his company paying compensation and a couple of insurances, a total sum of 2.1 million US dollars (Two Million, one Hundred US Dollars) is currently lying in his suspense Bank Account. I have since then, moved to my native homeland.
 
Right now, the whole funds still remains at the Bank and the management have been writing me, even few weeks ago as the beneficiary/next of kin, that the account has been DORMANT. And if I, as the beneficiary of the funds, do not respond in time that the account might face the risk of been CONFISCATED as an abandoned account or alternatively issue a Letter of Authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf, reactivate the account as I can not come over due to my bad health condition. I am currently in a secluded bay in a Private Hi-Tech Hospital. I have been undergoing intensive treatment for Cardiac Arrhythmia, which I developed as a result of the shock of my husband's beyond passage. Since the diagnosis of my ailment, I have since lost the ability to talk and move due to other complications as a result, while the doctors have predicted little time for me to live.
 
The BEST I can do is draw close to my personal computer and access the Internet a little bit when I have the strength. I have written this lengthy mail to you while I sat with my back to the wall.
 
Having read from the daily newspapers and a few news blocs on the Internet on my bedside, I have found compassion for humanity and the needy ones and the less privileged and the orphans and the homeless. Stories of earthquakes, Hurricanes, Storms and Floods, even Food Shortage and Disease Outbreak all over the world my heart bleeds when I see all this and saddens me the most that, no time for me to lend a helping hand with $2,100,000 at my disposal, which right now seems useless to me as I cannot live to spend it, it is my last wish to see this money distributed to Charity Organizations anywhere in the World, as my little way in helping humanity.
 
Cherished Ones, Relatives and Friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness; I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge funds responsibility to any of them. THIS HAS SIMPLY MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU TO HELP STANDBY AS THE SOLE BENEFACTOR TO THE FUNDS AT THE BANK.
 
This giant decision was taken by me because I do not have any child which would inherit these funds. And also, death has not scared me a bit since; I know where I am going.....the After Life. I do not need any telephone communication in this regard because of my soundless voice and presence of my husband's relatives who come around me always. I do not want them to realize this development.
 
I would need your:
Full Names:
Full Address:
Country:
Telephone and fax numbers:
Sex:
Age:
Occupation:
Religion (Optional):
Scanned copy of either your national ID card or international passport:
Can you travel to any other country?
If yes, list a few countries you can easily travel to, if need be for you to go distribute funds there:
 
If you are interested in helping me and helping the world I gladly await a quick response from you to come for my rescue before I lose the whole account. I need these funds distributed to Charity Homes and Orphanages, so I get one last joy before the end of "my little time". For your kindness and desire to help me, you shall have 20% of the total funds, which is $420,000 to yourself while you share the large 80% ($1,680,000) to the list of Charities and Orphanages I will direct you soonest.
 
Please my beloved friend, for more information on how we are going to carry out and conclude this; send me the details for the bank use.
 
Sincerely yours,
Mrs Aminatu Hayatu
Be Forever Blessed

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