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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: "webmaster" <webmaster@benefitauctionservices.com>
Reply-To: stevedouglas635@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:02:21 -0400
Subject: As you read this,

Dear friend
As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe
everyone
will die someday. My name is Steve Douglas I am a merchant of Omani
nationality but
presently residing in London. 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 a few close friends.

I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give
help 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 Oman,
Algeria and
Malaysia. Now that my health has 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 do not 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 fix deposit of eighteen million dollars (USD18,000,000.00) that
I have in the bank. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and
dispatch it to charity organizations. I have set aside 20% for you and for
your time.

If you are willing to assist, I want you to send me your contact information
as listed
below so that I can forward it to my lawyer to prepare a power of attorney and
a sworn
affidavit from the court in your name.The power of attorney and the worn
affidavit will make you the sole beneficiary of the funds.

Your full name.
Home address.
Private phone and fax numbers.
Age.
Sex.
Occupation.


God be with you.
Steve Douglas

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