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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: "gabrilmatais@cantv.net" <gabrilmatais@cantv.net>
Date: Wed, 19 May 2010 10:57:07 -0430
Subject: Dear beloved Frind

 

Dear beloved Frind,
 
I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, I am giving you my trust and wish you will give me back the trust i have given you . I believe that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.

I am Mr. Gabril Matias James  , I am 69 years old, I am  suffering from a long time cancer of the brain .From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next two  months, this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage. I was brought up  in a motherless babys home, and was married to my late wife for twenty  years without a child . My wife and I are true Christians, but quite  unfortunately, she was killed during the (ABIDJAN- BOUAKE) Crisis some years back.
 
Since her death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my belongings and deposited all the sum of $10.2million dollars in a Bank In Ivory Coast where i was liveing with my late wife all our lives, so i will like you to recive it on my behalf .
i will issue a letter of authorization to you to receive it on my behalf since I can not come do anything as a result of my illness, Presently,I'm with my laptop in a hospital in (London)where I have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to walk about or do anything by myself and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.

It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any  business  of your choice and  the gain made every year or 6 months as the case may be,  distributed each year among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless babys home where I come from. I want your good   humanitarian, to also use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around warld,I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option. I hope you will help to see my last wishes come true.
 
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority, which will prove that you  are the new beneficiary of my funds. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated.

(1.)Firstly to assist me to transfer this money toyour country.(2.)To assist me invest the money in a profitable ventures in your country or any other suitable country where you have good connections.(3.) To manage the money in a profitable manner preferably a joint venture deal with you.For your assistance you will get 60% of the total amount, Upon your request I will give you further details of the plans and tell you more about my self but you must treat as highly confidential for our Security .
 
 
I will be happy if you can come to se me in the hospital in London where i am undergoing treatment if possible.
 
Hope to hear from you soonest
 
Awaiting your reply
Yours Sincerely
Mr Gabril Matias

 

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