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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: divine31@handbag.com
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 15:22:39 +0100
Subject: PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dear Friend,

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe
everyone will die someday. My name is Sonnur Jaochim a merchant from Norway,
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 financial assistance 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, Somalia
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 organizations 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 four Million five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($4,500,000,000.00)
that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you to help
me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations of your
choice. If you know that you are willing to assist me in this matter, let
me know, because you are going to deal with my Attorney, you can then discuss
the percentage from there. My hands, Legs and all my entire body is very
weak, so i will not always be very strong to respond to you. Though i have
a Lap top in the Hospital which i will be using to know the position of things.Please
i want you to indicate your interest in this transaction by sending your
contact informations to my alternate email address which is divinecool@netscape.net
,i look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible,

God be with you,
Sonnur Jaochim.

___________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________

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