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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: "Mr.Thomas James" <thomasj22001@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: thomasj2201@yahoo.pt
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:52:14 +0545
Subject: I wait for your response as soon as possible

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Thomas James.,A Portugal national.I have been diagnosed
with Esophageal cancer. 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.

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 to come to this world I would live my life
a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me,I
have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and
extended family members as well as few close friends.I want God to be
merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give aims to
charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds
I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity
organizations in the U.A.E, Somalia and Malaysia.

Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself
any more. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in
Bulgaria and Pakistan; they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I
do not trust them any more,as they seem not to be contended with what I
have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge
cash deposit of Seventeen Million United States Dollars ($17, 000, 000, 00)
that I have with an Asset Management Company in Europe which I
deposited as Antique and Valuables.

I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to
charity organizations. N/B: Kindly note that 20% of this funds must go to the
tsunami victims,50% to other Charity Organization and 30% for your
effort and time. I cannot talk with you on the phone due to my health
situation, as I am using my Lap Top Computer to communicate with you.
You should respond to this e-mail ( thomasj2201@yahoo.pt ) if you are
interested in carrying out this assignment on my behalf.

Urgent Reply Needed.

God be with you.
Thomas James

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