419 scam: "Alinari Fondazione" <fondazione@alinari.it> PLEASE ACTUALISE MY DREAM

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Alinari Fondazione" <fondazione@alinari.it>
Reply-To: ehab_ellbe@w.cn
Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2010 07:15:48 +0100
Subject: PLEASE ACTUALISE MY DREAM

Dear Beloved,

Good day to you and your family,I know that this message will come to you as
a surprise i am sorry to disturb you but i feel deeply in my heart that you
are that individual that i have been seeking hence my contact to you for a
blessing that you are about to recieve and also share with people that might
be in need. My name is Mr. Ehab Elbalawi a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I
have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer which 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 know now 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
closefriends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so,I have
decided to give aims to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of
the last good deeds I do on earth. I want to believe that you will be capable
of handling this task for me.I will wait to hear from you and ALLAH will
bless you as you decide to do this. I await your urgent response, while
thanking you in anticipation for accepting to be used by GOD for this humane
cause.

Thank you
Mr. Ehab Elbalawi

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam