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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: "Wafa Alhalab" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrswafaalhalab@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2016 05:15:20 +0330
Subject: INVESTMENT

Respectfully,
I write to seek for your assistance to help me achieve my aim of relocating my family out of Syria because we are afraid not to be faced with problems a lot Syrian business people, who are now treated as commoners or refugees just because they travelled out of Syria without making good preparations oversea. Here in our own case is quite different, I have enough money that will bear all investment costs including buying a new house and setting up a good business in your country but presently I am faced with another challenge of sanctions placed on Syria banks, we will not be able to move our money through bank to bank transfer and is resolved our money be bagged and flown to your country under cover paper from Red Cross/UN.
I am a Medical Doctor by profession, I have passion to establish a hospital though also interested in other commercial business establishments. I don’t want to be treated as commoners, I want to be seen and addressed as investors when we arrive, I want you as our foreign helper that will stand as a partner to protect our interests in your country as investors and utilize our money on good investments in form of joint venture.  I will appreciate, you take this very seriously as we already plan to travel out of Syria possibly in the next one week time but before then I want to make sure our money is moved out to your country and entrusted on your care so you can have enough money to make proper preparations before my arrival after which we begin investments.
I assure you of great benefits from us if you are genuinely in acceptance to help, we are good people of course you will confirm it when we meet and I am ready to make you a permanent stake holder that will direct and manage the day to day  affairs of the investments.
Honestly I do not want anything that will bring me back to Syria that is why I want to make sure my money is moved first, then I will not suffer or lack when me and my children arrives your country, please I am waiting for your response, then I let you to begin to make arrangement of good area where we will use part of the money to buy a living house and a good school where my children will continue with their academics
If you are willing to assist me please kindly forward the following information.
(1) Full Name:
(2) Postal Address:
(3 Telephones and Fax Number
(4) Occupation:
(5) Age:
Yours faithfully,
Wafa Alhalab

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