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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: "Astorri Carlson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carlastorri1@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2018 15:00:35 -0000
Subject: Re: Charity Fund (Estate of Late Dr. Bernard Sherman)

The Beneficiary,

Estate of Dr. Bernard (Barry) Sherman.

I wish to notify you that you were listed as a beneficiary to the bequest of the sum of Seven Million Six Hundred Thousand US Dollars in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. The late Bernard (Barry) Sherman until his death was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist, as well as the chairman of Apotex Inc. With an estimated net worth of USD3.2 billion and later devoted in helping the needy and charitable Organisation.

He established himself as a wealthy industrialist in Canada where he exported Pharmaceuticals products. He was a very dedicated man and a great philanthropist during his lifetime. He involved himself in helping people by giving financial supports, the Apotex Foundation had sent million worth of medicine to disaster zones around the world, Sherman, with his wife, donated a record USD50 million to the United Jewish Appeal, They provided funds to build a major addition to the geriatric Bay crest center, and to other Toronto-area community centers in Ontario. The couple were also major donors to the United Way. As well, the Apotex Foundation had sent over USD50 million worth of medicine to disaster zones since 2007 and many more just to mention but a few. Late Barry Sherman and his wife Honey, were found dead under circumstances,described as "suspicious" in his North York Toronto, Ontario, Canada home, December 15, 2017. He was a Canadian citizen and he lived in Ontario all through his active years.

He said in his words as stated in his last testament that "it is my desired wish to see that the poor and less privileged are given assistance by any means and limit this token could go, especially in Asia, Africa, South America and part of Europe having seen it all myself". He therefore advised that this amount be "invested and 40% of the proceeds be used for charity annually, while 60% be retained by the beneficiary for his efforts".

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/19/trail-of-donations-show-causes-barry-and-honey-sherman-held-dear.html

http://www.apotex.com/ca/en/about/philanthropy.asp


I hereby request that you reconfirm the information below for proper identification of your person

(1) Your current telephone/ cell phone numbers
(2) Your correct forwarding address
(3) Your Full name as you want it to Appear in the new deed as beneficiary.

Please note that this is for real, as we will take care of all necessary arrangement.

Yours faithfully,
Astorri Carlson
Executor,
Estate of Dr. Bernard Sherman.

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