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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: "Frank Robertson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mmxy700@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 20 May 2011 19:33:18 +0100
Subject: Greetings

My name is Frank Robertson of United Kingdom; I have been diagnosed with chronic
Esophageal cancer in July 2010. 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 for anyone (not even myself)
but my business.

Please do not think this proposal is one of those being sent by internet fraudsters over
the years to ask for money later on. 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, I will live my life differently and a better person.

In the past one year i have been donating my money, to charity organizations in U.A.E,
India , Somalia and Malaysia and considering my present predicament, I have willed most
of my estate and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few
closed friends. It has now done on me that there is more to life after all so, I have
decided to give a portion of my estate to charity organizations, as a token of my
contribution to mankind.

So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, India,
Somalia and Malaysia . Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this
myself anymore. I once liquidated one of my accounts and delegated family members and
close associates to distribute the money to charity organization in Bulgaria and
Pakistan , I later discovered through my auditors that there was fraud in the
distribution of money to the Charities (selfishness). Hence, I do not trust them
anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have given and left for them. So,
if my family members can do that to me, why not trust a total stranger.

As soon as I receive your positive response I will let you know the name of the finance
institution where my last bulk sum is deposited, which is Fourteen Million, Five Hundred
thousand United States Dollars Only and I will let you know more details of this
project.

Finally, I am soliciting for your assistance to help in transferring the aforementioned
sum into your bank account and to distribute 80% of this sum to Charity organizations
like the earthquake and flood victims in Haiti and elsewhere in the world, churches,
educational institutions, hospitals that are not properly equipped with cancer
equipment, HIV/AIDS organizations and any other charity organizations of your choice; my
solicitor is going to assist in preparing all the relevant documents in your name that
will enable my bank release the funds to you with no risk involved, it is 100% risk
free.

I have set aside 25% for your time.

God be with you.

Yours faithfully,

FRANK ROBERTSON

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