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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "wolfgangmozart@cantv.net" <wolfgangmozart@cantv.net>
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:40:49 -0430
Subject: My Last Wish!

My dearest friend,


I know this revelation will keep you wondering why should I trust you with this informations I am about to reveal to you. I came across your profile from my personal search and I want you to know that I passed by so many people and many profile before I came in contact with your contact info and when I did, my heart and the spirit of God dwelling inside me directed me to confide and trust you. I believe that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.

I am Mr.Wolfgang Mozart, 61-years of Age, from Vienna, Austria. I was a well known cocoa businessman in Republic of Cote d'Ivoire . Unfortuntely, I become ill. I am deaf and suffering from a long time cancer of the lung, which also affected my brain. I am presently in a hospital where I have been taking cancer treatment and I'm here with my laptop. From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and the doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next few months, this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage. I was brought up in a motherless baby's home, and was married for twenty-years without a child. Unfortunately, my wife died in a fatal motor accident. Since her death, I decided not to re-marry, because of my harmful illness, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all to a bank. I took this decision because I do not have any child or relative that will inherit this money.

Presently, this money is still into bank custody, and the management just wrote me as the Legitimate beneficiary to come forward to receive the money after keeping it for so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to come and receive it on my behalf since I can not come over as a result of my illness, or they get it confiscated. As soon as you assured me that you are willingly to assist me out in this transaction, I will kindly send you all the evidence proves concerning the existence of this fund.

I have since lost my ability to talk and I can not ear properly due to dettoriating illness conditions. My doctor have told me that I have only few months to live. It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any organization of your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization, to also use this money to fund churches, indigent persons, widows around and motherless baby's home where I come from. I want your good humanitarian. I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option. I hope you will help see my last wishes come true.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated here-in. I want you to keep this contact confidential till such a time this money get to your bank account. This is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on Earth. What are required of you are your honesty, trust and sincerity. Upon hearing from you next with positive responses I will let you know the total amount involve on this transaction. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same purpose. My faith is in the will of the Almighty God and the believe that God giveth and takes at his time. My dear friend, please remember me in your prayers.

With love and best regards,

Mr.Wolfgang Mozart.

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