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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: "Zorion Mateus" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mzorion@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2016 02:01:59 +0100
Subject: Hello Dear Friend

From. Mr. Zorion Mateus.
Date: 8-14-2016

Kindest Attention:

My name is Mr. Zorion Mateus. I am from Portugal . 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 was 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 given a second chance to come to this world I would live 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 immediate
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 alms 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 family to close my account and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in United States,
Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa; 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 deposit of Eleven Million, 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 to charity organizations and use it to help
those in Need.

N/B:Kindly note that 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 my health situation, as I am using my Lap Top Computer to communicate
with you. You should respond to this E-mail: mzorion@aol.com if you are interested in carrying out this assignment
on my behalf.

God be with you.

Mr. Zorion Mateus.

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