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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: don bosco <don_bosco06@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 01:08:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DEAREST ONE!.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: don_bosco06@yahoo.com

DEAREST ONE!.


I AM WRITING THIS TO YOU IN GOOD FAITH,MY NAME IS MR DON BOSCO, FROM ABIDJAN COTE D IVOIRE.I USED TO WORK WITH SHELL PETROLEUM AND WAS ALSO A MAJOR INVESTOR IN OFFSHORE OIL RIGGS UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I WAS CRIPPLED BY STROKE WHICH LEFT HALF PART OF MY BODY PARALYSED AND ALSO I HAD UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE EYE SURGERY WHICH HAS RESULTED INTO POOR VISION.FOR THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A MIRACLE,A SPIRITUAL CURE ALL TO NO AVAIL. RECENTLY MY DOCTOR GAVE ME VERY BAD NEWS WHICH IS VERY DISTURBING TO MY EARS,HE SAID THAT IN A SHORT TIME WHICH I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE, THAT I WILL SOON DIE OF MY ILLNESS,I HAVE NO CLOSE RELATIVE ARROUND AND THE ONLY ONE I HAVE WHICH HAPPENS TO BE A DISTANT COUSIN OF MINE MRS LINDA LEFLER LEFT FOR AUSTRALIA 10 YEARS AGO AND SINCE THEN I HAVENT SEEN HER NEITHER DO I HAVE HER POSTAL ADDRESS.I HAVE SURRENDERED MY LIFE TO GOD AND I AM NOW A BORN AGAIN,I WANT TO DO A GOOD DEED BEFORE I DEPART HENCE MY CONTACTING YOU.


I WILL WANT TO DONATE THE REST OF MY WEALTH TO THE MISSIONARY OR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND FOR THE NEEDY SINCE THE WEALTH WOULD NOT BE USEFULL FOR ME WHEN I AM GONE.I AM SEEKING FOR WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO DILLIGENTLY CARRY OUT THIS WILL OF GOD FOR ME WHICH IS THE REASON I AM CONTACTING.MY ACCOUNT BALANCE PRESENTLY TOTALLING $18,828,645.67 AS WAS REFLECTED IN MY LAST STATEMENT ACCOUNT AND I HAVE WISH TO USE THIS FUND TO FINANCE THIS PROJECT AS I DO NOT HAVE MUCh TIME LEFT,YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 10% OF THESE FUNDS FOR YOUR GOOD WORK AND PUT THE REST INTO THE CHURCH AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS,WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED OF YOU IS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BANK FOR THESE FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERED BUT THE FIRST THING I WILL REQUIRE FROM YOU IS TO GIVE YOUR LIFE TO GOD,RIGHT NOW I AM CONFINED TO AN AUTOMATED WHEEL CHAIR IN THE TEACHING HOSPITAL AND THE INTERNET IS THE ONLY MEANS I HAVE IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.


I PRESUME THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON TO MEET REGARDING SUCH ISSUE AS I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER TO GO ANOTHER PARTY,PLEASE SEND ME A MAIL IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ASSIST ME ON THIS AND ALSO INCLUDE YOUR CELLPHONE,PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO ENABLE MYSEF CALL YOU WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE NURSE HERE WHO HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO ASSIST ME AS I AM EAGERLY EXPECTING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE TO MY MAIL VIA THAT ADDRESS.AS SOON AS I RECIEVE A RESPONSE FROM YOU I SHALL HAND EVERY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THS FUND OVER TO YOU INCLUDING ALL LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR ONWARD TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT SO THAT YOU CAN COMMENCE ON THIS WORK OF GOD FOR ME AS I AM DISABLED AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND AND DO MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

REMAIN BLESSED

MR DON BOSCO.

- don bosco


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