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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: "Renzo Battacchi " <bossnt@chollian.net>
Reply-To: renzobattacchi5@gmail.com
Date: 17 Jan 2018 20:06:05 +0100
Subject: Dear aforleo Good Evening

Hello aforleo,

I will like to inform you that I received your e-mail and
greetings to you and your family as this letter may come to you
as a surprise because we have not yet met but I believe am
writing to an honest person regardless of we are strangers at
this moment.

I want to say I have no intentions of causing you any pains. As
you read this, I do not want you to feel sorry for me because I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is Renzo Battacchi
born and brought up in London; I have been diagnosed with
prostate and esophageal cancer that was discovered very late due
to my laxity in caring for my health.

It has defiled all form of medicine 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 focus on my business as that was the only
thing I cared about. But now I regret all this as I know that
there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the
money in the world. I believe if 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 I know my time is near, I have willed and given most of
my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family
members and as well as a few close friends.

I have also decided to give alms to charity organizations, for 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
Philippines, Nepal, Vietnam, Africa and Sri Lanka. Now that my
health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself any
more.
I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
donate the money which I had in that account to charity
organization in Bulgaria, 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 is a huge cash deposit in a financial
institute Oversea. I will want you to help me collect this
deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations.
I am writing from my laptop computer in my bedroom where I await
my last days. I pray that God uses you to support and assist me
with good heart, thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.
Have a nice day.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Renzo Battacchi,
N.B: Please note that you will not be able to reach me with this
email again, contact me through my private e-mail and my private
E-mail address is: renzobattacchi5@gmail.com


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