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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: "Dr. Gregory Douglas" <mrssofia.shawshaw@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gregdouglas936@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2019 07:05:58 +0100
Subject: Business Proposal From Dr. Gregory Douglas


Greetings,

My name is Dr.Gregory Douglas, I’m a medical doctor from New York USA but
am in Syria for a medical mission. I have been here for 11 months and my
task is to conduct medical check-ups to expatriates, wounded soldiers and
also treat and vaccinate internally displaced persons in the United Nations
camps in Syria

I want to start by apologizing for contacting you through this medium but I
have no other choice due to the nature of where I'm writing you from. I
decided to contact you through this medium because i was looking for a real
and true person whom i can trust and invest such money with as my partner.

I am writing to you in utmost sincerity so I want you to read carefully. 4
months ago, During my call duty in the city of Idlib, i was assigned to
treat a Rebel Leader who sustained a lot injuries during an air raid, as an
active doctor i performed all the medical procedures and treatment i could
offer in such a situation, which kept him alive for 2 days. He entrusted a
consignment trunk to me that worth $5,500,000 USD in cash and ask me to
take care of the consignment trunk and also use it for investment projects
wisely, because he saw my efforts to save his life but he later died of his
injuries..

Honestly, The banks here have been destroyed because of the war and you
know I am here for a medical program which forbids me from engaging in
other activities or deals such as this, but I cannot reject such a gift
from a dying man, so I decided to contact you to help me invest the funds.
I heard that real estate business is growing rapidly around the world but
my late father dealt on Equipment machines. If real estate business is not
profitable enough and you have knowledge of business in the following
sectors, tourism, stock speculation, film industries, mining, oil,
transportation and tobacco or a solid background and idea of making a good
profit in any business of your choice where we can invest the funds, count
me in.

I want to re-assure you of my honesty in everything I have written and all
I want is to have an agreement/trust with you, I will deliver the whole
money to you, When you receive it, you will take 20% which is $1,100,000.00
USD as your share for helping me until I arrive in 3 weeks and commence our
investment plans.

I need your answer urgently so we can discuss everything in details. I know
it may seem awkward to contact someone through this means but considering
the situation of things here in regards to security and nature of my job,
this is the most secured and assured way I can find someone who is real and
not imaginary.

Best Regards
Dr. Gregory Douglas

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