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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: "James Robin" <james_robin23@msn.com>
Reply-To: jamesrobin@casino.com
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 10:58:19 +0000
Subject: FULFILMENT WITH YOU PLEASE READ.

Contact email:jamesrobin@casino.com
 

Dear Friend,
 Firstly, I wish you the very best wishes of good health and Success. I
 also enjoin you not to wonder as this letter may come to you as a surprise
 due to the fact that we have not yet met. I have to say that I have no
 intentions of causing you any worries as I decided to contact you through
 this medium. As you read this, I don't want you to feel SORRY or PITY for
 me because I believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mr James Robin,
 a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been diagnosed with prostate and
 esophageal Cancer that was discovered lately due to my laxity in caring
 for my health. It has defiled all forms of medicine and right now, I have
 only about 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. I wasn't too generous, I was
 always hostile to people and only focused on my businesses 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 live in this world I
 would live my life a different way from how I have lived it.
 However, now that I know my time is near, I have decided to give alms to
 charity organizations and people, as I want this to be one of the last
 good deeds I do on earth. I have willed and given most of my properties and
 assets to some orphanages as well as some Schools in the U.A.E. Now that
 my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself any more. The
 last of my money, which I planned to use in opening a shopping complex in
 London is a huge cash deposited with a Financial Security Firm abroad, I
 want to donate it to any worthy, charity organization, hence my contacting
 you with blind trust having been led by my intuition of goodwill.

 MY REQUEST
 As a result of my present health situation, I am looking for a trustworthy
 individual/firm to help me collect this deposited funds with the Financial
 Firm abroad and dispatch it to charity organizations and let them know
 that I, Mr. James Robin, is making this generous donation as a dying man's
 last wish. A foundation should be set up in my name if possible.
I am writing this from my laptop computer in my hospital bed
 where I wait for my time to come. I pray that God uses you to support and
 assist me with good heart.

 COMMISSION/REMUNERATION
 As regards your commission/remuneration, I have decided to offer you 25%
 of the total sum and also set aside 5% for all your expenses (i.e. for any
 expenses that will be incur during the process of this project).I
 strongly believe that associating with you to embark on this, will derive
 a huge success hereafter and it will mark a lasting bond for you and
 profound joy for me. If you are willing to assist me I will be expecting
 your response.

Please write me through my private e-mail account:jamesrobin@casino.com

 I await your anticipated co-operation.
 Sincerely,

 Mr. James Robin.
 NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
 task is accomplished because I do not want anything that will Jeopadize my
 last wish, as I do not want my family people to know about this because I
 once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and donate the
 money, which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria, 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.
 I will be communicating with you by email as I do not want anybody (my
 medical staff) to know what I am up to as they are always around me.

 

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