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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: Thomas Brown <kto.omo.baba@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2014 10:34:34 -0800
Subject: HELLO

Dear friend,
As you read this, I do not want you to feel sorry for me,because I believe
everyone will die someday.My name is Thomas Brown a merchant in
London,United Kingdom. I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and
have been in the hospital for a very long time. It has defied all forms of
medical treatment, and right now I have about few months to live, according
to the medical experts.
I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for
anyone (not even myself) but my business and wealth. Though I am very rich,
but 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 till date. Now that
God is calling me, I have willed and shared most of my properties and
assets to my immediate and extended family members, including few close
friends.I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul, so I have
decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of
the last good deeds I do on earth before Gods call. So far, I have
distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.K, Algeria and
Malaysia. Now that my health has been deteriorated so badly, I cannot do
this myself anymore. 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 donot trust them anymore, 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 eighteen million dollars united states dollars
($18.000.000) that I have with a finance and trust Company in Europe. I
would want you to help me
collect this deposit on my behalf and distribute it to charity
organizations in your country.

I would want you to keep 10% of the funds to yourself and share the rest to
charity organizations in your country. Reply this email as soon as possible
even if you are not capable to handle this transaction on my behalf. My
regards and Love to you and your family members.
God be with you.kindly reply to private email (thomas_brown62@aol.com)

Thomas Brown

thomas_brown62@aol.com

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