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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: "Lady Helen Crawford" <ladyhelencrawfordfunds@live.com>
Reply-To: lady.helencrawfordfund@live.com
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 05:48:35 -0500
Subject: My Wish........"Crawford Charity Foundation"

Dearly Beloved,

I'm Lady Helen Crawford suffering from cancerous ailment. I was married to Sir
William Crawford a Malaysia base shipping tycoon notable for his great wealth,
influential extended family and charitable activities all his life before his
death. My husband died after a protracted illness in April 5th, 2008. Our life
together as husband and wife lasted for about three decades without a child.

My late husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-
privileged individuals in the society, as we both had passion for those people
who cannot help themselves due to physical disability or financial
predicament. I can adduce the fact that, we needed a Child from this
relationship which never came. When my late husband was alive he invested in
stocks the sum of Fourty Million US dollars ($40,000,000.00), which he derived
from his vast investment in capital market with a Security Company here in
Malaysia and named me as the sole beneficiary of this trust funds upon his
demise (all records are kept with my family lawyer).

Presently, the funds is still with the Security Company.

Just last week, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live, due to the
cancerous problems that i have been suffering from. what bothers me most is
the stroke that I have in addition with the cancer. Hence, with the hard
reality that has befallen my family and i, i have decided to donate the funds
to you and i want you to use the gift which comes from my husbands effort to
establish a charity home called "Crawford Charity Foundation" for the upkeep
of widows, orphans, destitute, the down- trodden, physically challenged
children, barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped
financially around you, as it is often said that blessed is the hand that
giveth.

I took the bold decision to contact you because, I do not have any child that
will inherit the money and my late husband relatives are bourgeois and very
wealthy persons that will misuse and invest the money into ill perceived
ventures if willed to them, instead of helping the poor in a worthy manner. I
do not need any telephone communication in this regard, due to my
deteriorating health and the presence of my husband relatives around me, as i
am currently bedridden in my husband Family house here in Georgetown, Penang
and do not receive any visitors unless approved by Sir Talmud Crawford, my
late husband immediate younger brother.

So, i want you to Contact my family lawyer Barrister Paul Westley
(barrpaul_lawfirm@live.com) and tell him that I have willed the funds to you
by quoting my personal reference number
Law/chamber/solicitors/rt/cfd/WILL/9837520312, as i have earlier authorized
him to issue a Letter of Authority in your favor to the Security Company
handling the stocks by telling them that I have willed the funds to you for a
specific purpose and good work. He will also endorse my WILL, where you will
be named as the sole beneficiary of the trust funds. Please ensure to provide
for him all that he may require to finalize the arrangement, and make sure you
maintain a confidential and cordial relationship with him even in my absence,
because he is a very trust worthy and caring person.

My happiness today is that I lived a life worthy of emulation and i want you
to be kindhearted all through your life. Please, assure me that you will act
just as I have stated herein, as i hope to hear from him soon that you have
contacted him with his personal email address that i have given to you above.

Hence, he is currently waiting to receive your reply.

Remain blessed, from your beloved Sister.
Lady Helen Crawford.

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