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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Faroog Yousuf" <yousuf_farg@codehot.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 10:55:18 +0400
Subject: Please I need Your Reply Immediately You Read This Mail!!!

Dear Friend.
Before I will introduce myself, I would like to assure you that this
is Not a junk mail. I hope and pray to GOD that I have the right person.As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, Ibelieve everyone will die someday.
My name is Mr faroog yousuf, a merchant in Dubai, in the 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 onmy 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 Godhas called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assetsto 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 alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of thelast 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 nottrust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I haveleft for them.
The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of twenty seven million dollars $27,000,000,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 will reward you for your time and patience.
reply me with your full contact information for more private and confidential communication.
God be with you.
Mr,faroog yousuf


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