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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: "Rev. Younan Matta" <younan.matta@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2013 15:00:45 +0800
Subject: From Rev . Younan

>From Rev . Younan,

Please take your time to read this message; although i know you will be
amazed at the level of trust that i am willing to place on someone I have
never seen nor spoken with before. It is my condition that has prompted me
to do so. I have been disowned by the people I lived my productive life
serving, Catholics!

Please my friend, i want you to swear an oath of secrecy never to mention
this to any body not even your spouse must learn of this, you must uphold
this information am about to share with you utmost confidentiality, fasten
and prayer. If this information get's into the wrong hands or into the hand
of my enemies they will go to any length to jeopardize it.

My name is Rev. Younan Matta, I am a 75 years old catholic priest for over
25 years. I was framed for sexual offences against minors in 1985. This was
the work of my enemies who were against the reforms I pushed for in the
Catholic church.

I was sentenced in October 2010, after hiding in the USA for a long time.
Since then I have been battling with a heart condition and I know I cannot
live any longer than I have done. I've decided to release to you the total
sum of $8,970,000.00 (Eight million Nine Hundred and seventy Thousand us
dollars) deposited in a offshore bank. I had wanted to use this money to
set up an orphanage but since it is clear that i may not live to achieve
this, i want to bequeath this money to you so that you will help me
accomplish this dream.

As a Catholic priest, I had no child, no wife, and no family. The church i
trusted all my life has failed me, so I have no other option as my days on
earth are numbered. It's true we don't receive emails like this every day,
but today is a different day for you.

I took this decision because I was raised in an Orphanage, i do not have
relatives and thirdly, i will soon be undergoing a major heart surgery of
which i do not think i will survive any more knife in the theatre. this is
why I have decided to contact you so that you can help me fulfill my last
wish.
I will furnish you with all the detail information's you would require to
claim this money from the bank as my next of kin immediately i hear from
you.

Regards
Rev. Younan Matta

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