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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: "Mr. Genji Yuu"
Reply-To: zeferinomauro@aol.com
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:18:15 -0600
Subject: Hello Dear Friend


From. Mr. Zeferino Mauro. Date: 7-13-2016 Kindest Attention: My name is Mr.=
Zeferino Mauro. I am from Portugal . I have been diagnosed with Esophageal=
cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I hav=
e 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 (no=
t even myself) but my business. Though I was rich, I was never generous, I =
was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was th=
e only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that ther=
e is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the wo=
rld. I believe when given a second chance to come to this world I would liv=
e my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that my creator has=
called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my im=
mediate and extended family members as well as few close friends .I want my=
creator to be merciful to me and accept my soul, I have decided to give al=
ms to charity organizations and those in Need, 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 when I was well. Now that my health has deteriorated=
so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my fami=
ly to close my account and distribute the money which I have there to chari=
ty organization in United States, Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa; the=
y refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anym=
ore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The l=
ast of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Eleven Mi=
llion, Two Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty United States Dollars (=
USD 11,200,680.00) that I have with an Asset Management / Vaulting Company =
Abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and distribute it t=
o charity organizations and use it to help those in Need. N/B:Kindly note t=
hat 80% of this funds must go to Charity Organizations around the World and=
20% for your effort and time. I cannot talk with you on the phone due to m=
y health situation, as I am using my Lap Top Computer to communicate with y=
ou. You should respond to this E-mail: zeferinomauro@aol.com if you are int=
erested in carrying out this assignment on my behalf. God be with you. Mr. =
Zeferino Mauro.

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