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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: "Engineer John J. Westpha." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jose_ph202@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 05:20:05 -0700
Subject: Good Day,

 
Good Day,
My name is Engineer. John J. Westpha, an Australian oil consultant/contractor with shell petroleum development company (SPDC) I was also married with two children. My Wife and two children died in a car accident six years ago.
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 Lost of my family, I have found a new desire to assist helpless families.
Before I became ill the doctors say I have cancer, I kept (€5.5M) Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand Euros in a Long-term deposit vault in a bank in Spain.
Presently, I’m in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer.
I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me categorically that I have only two months to live. So is my last wish to see this money use for Charity work.
This is 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 as their greed has blind them, all they want is for me to die so they can have a feast of All I have.
Please, I beg you to help me receive this (€5.5M) Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand Euros from the bank in Spain and use it judiciously for charity work as everyone around me now have all deserted me only waiting for my death so they can have a filled day.
Please I want you to be human and humane, because I don't know whom to turn to as loneliness have taken the better half of me to help. If you are sincere and willing to use this Money well to help Charity once it gets to your hand, complete this information below.
Your complete name:
Your contact address:
Your age:
Your personal phone number:
Yours Sincerely,
Engineer John J. Westpha.
 

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