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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: "Alfreda Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsalfreda01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:08:17 +0200
Subject: Very Urgent ( From Alfreda Smith)

Attn: Dear beloved"

Happiness keeps You Sweet, Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You Human, Failures keeps You Humble, Success keeps You Glowing, and But Only God keeps You Going! You are so special! this Year 2009!

My name is Alfreda Smith a British merchant in Caribbean Island. I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in caring for my health. This sickness has defiled all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have since lost my power of speech and can only manage to write now; as that has been the only way I am able to communicate.

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 focus on my business as that is the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all, 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 the Almighty gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it.

Now that I know my time is near, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a few close friends. I want nature and the Almighty God in Heaven to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so, I have decided to give the remains of my wealth to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I did on earth.

So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the Caribbean Island, London and Ireland. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself any more. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts in Switzerland and donate the money in the account to the motherless/charity homes across Africa, Europe and America organizations, they refused and kept the money to themselves. I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them.

The last of my money which only few of them knows of is the (U.S$13.7Million) cash deposit that I have with a financial firm. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations and please earn only 20% of the money as your fee for the distribution.

Please let me know if you are interested in helping me out. May the Almighty remain with you as you do.

Regards,
Alfreda Smith.

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