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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. Saeed Ahmed" <infosaeed@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: saeed2001@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:28:12 +0700
Subject: My Beloved Brother/Sister In Christ,

Dear Beloved,
As you read this, I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mr. Saeed Ahmed a merchant
in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It
has defiled all forms of medical treatment, 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 or anyone (not
even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous,
I was always hostile to people and only 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 it.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property
and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few
close friends. I want Allah to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I
have decided to give also to charity organizations, as I want this 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. 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 there to charity Organization 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
Thirty Five million dollars $35,000,000.00 that I have with a financial
Security Firm abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and
dispatched it to charity organizations. I have set aside 30% for your time
and service. Please reply me with honesty as soon as you receive this
mail.

God be with you.
Mr. Saeed Ahmed.

NB: For confidential reasons you can contact me through my personal and
confidential email address: saeed2001@hotmail.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources: