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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: comen call <comen_call@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:12:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Important and Urgent...Pls, get back to me fast!


Hello,

How are you doing today? I am writing to inform you about my traveling to United Kingdom, though it came to me as an emergency call because my Nephew who live and work there is critically ill and he need family support, he is suffering from kidney failure and need transplant to keep him alive. His condition is deteriorating and they need to operate him fast as the doctor said.
 
I was wondering if you can help me with the sum of (3,750GBP) because i have spent all the money i brought simply because i don't know his situation is so critical and they need to operate him fast.  So I'll need the money fast so as to pay for his surgery and balance the hospital bill and other medical items we bought for him. Please i would be so much happy if you can just help me get the money at all means and i promise to return it back to you immediately i get back to home because i still have some money in my Bank Account to pay you back without any complain, do have it sent via Western Union to my name and the address below:
 
Name:     Haroon Rasheed Khan
Address:  London, SN5 5JY
              United Kingdom.
 
Also get back to me with the necessary information after you've done with the transfer such as:
 
Sender Full Name...............
Sender Address..............
country.............
Amount Sent...............
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) 10 digit...........
And the Scan receipt of the transfer.
 
 Please respond to this email as soon as you read it so that I will know my faith and the next step to take because I don't want anything to happen to my Nephew.
Once again, i promise to return the money back to you immediately i get back home and I pray that Almighty God will help you too as you help me to safe his life.
 
Awaiting your response,

Regards,
Haroon rasheed khan.





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