419 scam: "Mr. Adada"<andrewswayne@freeuk.com> CHARITY FUNDS

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Adada" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wahidadada300@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:56:29 -0700
Subject: CHARITY FUNDS

Hello Friend,

I am Mr. Adada an Oil merchant in Iraq; i have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It has defied
all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to
medical experts, just recently my doctor inform me i have a few weeks to live due to the esophageal
cancer. 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 have decided to give alms to charity
organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. The last of my money which no one
knows of is the huge cash deposit of fifteen million dollars $15, 000, 000,00 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. It may
interest you to know that i once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money
which I have there to charity organization; 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 have set aside 10% for you and for your time.

God be with you.

Mr. Adada

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam