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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: Mr.Taylor Steven <smr.taylor@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: tmr.steven@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:24:36 -0500
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend, Pardon my Approach with priority consent. I am Mr.Steven Taylor, an English man who is suffering from cancerous ailment. I am married to Mrs.McKeehan Taylor my wife who also was an English woman though dead now. I formerly co-owned one of the Mining Industries in British Columbia for over two decades before and since the death of my wife I suffered the wicked sickness and happens to close it down. my wife died on the 11Th of July 2008 around 2:00AM.Our marriage lasted for over a decade without an issue. My wife died after a protracted illness. We made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals within the Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa and the rest of the globe as he had passion for people who cannot help themselves due to physical disability or financial predicament. I can attribute this to the fact that he needed a Child from our marriage, which never came. I deposited the sum of $17.3 Million (Seventeen Million Three hundred thousand) with a Bank in States. This money is still with the Bank and recently, my Doctor told me that I have a limited number of days on earth and that my life span will not exceed 150days due to the stage the cancer has gotten to. Anyway, what bothers me most is the stroke that I suffered in addition to the cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen my family, I have decided to donate this fund to a non-governmental, a non-religious, and/or a non profit organization or better still an individual who will utilize the money the way I am going to instruct here-in. I will want the beneficiary to use this gift which comes from my sweat to fund the upkeep of widows, widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden, physically challenged children, barren women and people who can prove to be genuinely handicapped financially. I took this decision because I do not have any child to inherit the money. My relatives are well off and with uncharitable minds. Moreover, I do not want my hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill-perceived ventures. I do not want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner, hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death because I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be with the Almighty when I eventually pass on. The Almighty will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. With God, all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply convincing me of your good intentions, I shall give you the contact of the bank. I will also issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower you as the original beneficiary of this fund and write my will. You might be expected to Visit USA, if necessary (Unless the bank advis es otherwise).This will enable you to see things for yourself. If possible, pay me a visit at the hospital. Here, you can sign the Fund Release Order Classified Documents to enable you pick up a Draft or process a Bank Wire Transfer for the sum of $17.3 Million (Seventeen Million Three hundred thousand) as my beneficiary. I may also be able to help you fine-tune arrangements on whichever way you feel safer in receiving the fund and to any account of your own choice. My consolation and happiness is that I lived a life worthy of emulation. Please always be prayerful all through your life. I hope to hear from you on my ? Private E-mail (tmr.steven@yahoo.com.hk) and also wish to see you soon in Florida if you can make it to the USA. God bless you and members of your family. I attached below the picture of me and my late wife and copies of my I identity. I wait for your kind response. Best regards. Mr. Steven Taylor

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