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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: "J. A Martinez" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <martinezjose642@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:20:18 -0700
Subject: Charity Offer

Dear Friend

This mail might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it
as unserious could come into your mind; but please consider it a divine
wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. My name is Jose A.
Martinez. I am a 54 years old man, I am Cuban currently residing in Dubai
(United Arab Emirate).

I was formerly living in Cuba and served under Castro`s government but had
to run into self exile after the ruling Government of Fidel Castro closed
in on my family on accusations of anti-government greetings to you and
your lovely statements, I was once married with two children but my family
also my wife and children escpe to america before they where one of those
vitim in world trade centre.

l did made a lot of money serving Castro and on getting to UAE, I have
been a merchant here in Dubai dealing in Ornamentals, Oriental Carpets
and Artifacts
and life was very smooth for me until about three(3) years ago when I
was first diagnosed
of Cancer of the Larynx.Before this happened my business and concern
for making money
was all I lived for, I never really cared about other values in life. But
since the loss of my family and hometown, I have found a new desire to
assist helpless families.

I have been helping orphans in orphanage/motherless homes. I have once
donated some money to orphans in war ravaged Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and
some East European Countries.Before I became ill, I kept $ 4.5 Million in
a long-term deposit vault of a security/finance company and I didn`tstate
any next of kin when the money was deposited and if I died without stating
any the money will automatically go into the coffers of the security
company and I don`t want this to happen. I have left the hospital and presently
receiving treatment in an acupuncture clinic, I have been undergoing treatment
for Oesophageal Cancer at the hospital.

I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I
have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see
this money distributed to charity organizations.Because relatives and
friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness, I cannot
live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them.
Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me collect the deposit
and distribute
it amongst charity organizations. Use your judgement to distribute
the money and feel
free to reimburse yourself when you have the money for any cost you incur
during the process of collecting and distributing the money to charity
organizations. I am willing to offer you a reward If you are willing to
help, please reply as soon as you can Looking forward to hearing from you
soonest.

Best wishes,
J. A Martinez

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