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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Hajia Zainab Hassan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrszhassan1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:41:56 -0400
Subject: Business Proposal . Allah Afiz.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Mrs. Zainab Hassan,I was married to Mr. Mohamed Hassan who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ghana for nine years before he died in the year 2010. We were married for nineteen years with a child; He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death, he was a devoted Muslim and converted me from Christianity to Islam. Since his death, I decided not to remarry or get another child outside my matrimonial home because of my fear of heart break and to effectively safe guard the future of my son Idris. When my late husband was alive he left the sum of $50. Million (fifty million U.S.A Dollars) and 300 kilos of gold only in fixed deposit in one of our Finance Institute Security Company here in Ghana, with my name as the beneficiary in as shown in the deposit document. Presently, this money and Gold is still in the Financial Institute Security Company here in Ghana, Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Two months due to cancer problem and heart complications. The

I want you to use this fund for my child, the orphanages, widows, propagating the word of Allah (Islam) and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained. The Qur'an made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that gives. I took this decision because of my only child that will inherit 40% from this money and the gold, Please kindly help to secure a good education & accommodation and also for the sake of Allah, i will like you to take him as your child and been a guardian to him where by my husband relatives are not Muslims and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Almighty Allah. I known that "Almighty Allah will fight my case and I shall hold my peace".

I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health. With Allah all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank and for you to contact with them directly for onward transfer of the said funds to your bank account, I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you as the present beneficiary of my funds. I want you and your family to always pray for me and my son because the Allah is my only hope. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Muslim. Whoever that wants to serve almighty Allah must serve him in spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will be there for me and most importantly comfort my son even after my death. Hope to receive your reply. May Allah guide us and bless our intentions, Kindly respond to my email.

Best Regards to your family,

Hajia Zainab Hassan

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