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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: Michael <michaelhaliber@umail.ne>
Reply-To: michaelhaliber@aol.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:47:18 +0100
Subject: Re: Dear Beloved

Dear Beloved,

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me
My name is Michael Haliber a merchant British in Dubai
U.A.E, 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 am very 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 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 God has called me, I have willed and given most of
my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a
few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so,
I have decided to give also to charity organizations, 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 in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has
deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my
family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to
charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, 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 ($38.000.000 usd) that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad.
I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations.
I have set aside 20% for you and for your time.

God bless you.
Michael Haliber

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