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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 <ladyhelecrawfordfunds@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: lady.helencrawfordfund@live.com
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:51:03 +0200
Subject: My Last Wish



Dearly Beloved,

I'm Lady Helen Crawford resident in Penang, Malaysia 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, 2009. Our life together as husband and wife lasted for
about two and a half 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 our marriage which never
came. When my late husband was alive he invested in stocks the sum of Forty
Million United States 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 are 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. With the hard reality that has
befallen me, I have decided to donate the funds to you and I want you to use
the gift which comes from my late husband effort to establish a charitable
Foundation 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 to
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 my late husband immediate
younger brother and I do not want him and the rest of the family members to
know about this development, in order to safeguard this bequest.

So, I want you to immediately Contact my family lawyer Barrister Paul Westley
(barpaul_lawfirms@live.com) and tell him that I have willed the funds
to you by
quoting my personal reference numberLaw/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. 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 you soon that you have
contacted him with his personal email address that I have given to you above.

With Love,
Lady Helen Crawford.

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