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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: "Suleman Hassann" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sulemanhassann@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 15:50:42 -0700
Subject: HI

Dear Beloved.
I am Hassan Suleman, a Palestinian National; I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer after losing all the members of my family in a bomb blast. It has defiled all forms of medical treatments. Right now, I have only about few months to live according to doctors and my doctor. I am a very rich man indeed. At the earlier stage of my sickness, I have tried to be generous to the poor people around me. Well I succeeded in sharing my wealth with the poor. I never thought my life would end this way.
 
Right now, no family, no helper, if not my money but money isn’t every thing. I am presently restricted from life activities. No woman, no alcohol, no public gathering, no noisy place, no phone, no any kind of fun. I am almost incapacitating here in the hospital waiting for the last day.
 
Now, I am contacting you privately for one thing, hope it will not be so embarrassing.
Please I beg your understanding. Do me this favor and assist me for I am helpless here and can not do this by my self again because of my present health.
I have a huge deposit of $13m (thirteen million dollars) in a security company abroad.
 
Hence there is no hope for my future again, I want you to assist me to receive this money and share it among the charity organizations, the poor, the needy, the homeless and especially the war victims all across the world. My life will be extended if any of these people can feel happy for one day because of my money.
 
You will take with you 20% of this money for your assistance. All the documents for this
transactions are with me. I will forward to you the certificate of this $13m deposit and
Write to the security company to enable you withdraw the money. I will do this as soon as I am convinced of your readiness to assist me.
 
May the Almighty ALLAH bless you as you help the poor and the sick.
 
Best Regards.
 
HASSAN SULEMAN.

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