419 Charity Scam
PLEASE NOTE: The persons, companies or organisations mentioned in the example(s) below are not responsible for these e-mail scams. Organisations and individuals, pretending to act on behalf of these institutions/persons, initiate these scams and abuse the reputable names of these well-known institutions/persons, to add a false sense of security to these fraudulent e-mails. Also note that some scammers act on behalf of certain organisations that do not even exist.
Date: 20 November 2006
From: <[DELETED]@yahoo.com>
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME
(A scammer with a conscience)
Dear Beloved
As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday.
My name is [DELETED], a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has defiled all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.
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 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 believe when God 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 God ! has called me, 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 God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so, 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. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E,Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self any more. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, 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.
The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of twenty four million dollars($24,000,000)that I have with a security company in Amsterdam Holland.
I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to
charity organizations.
I have set aside 20% for you for your time and patience.If you are
willing to help me,
Please reply on this email:[DELETED]@yahoo.com
with the following:
1.YOUR FULL NAMES
2.YOUR PHONE NUMBER
3.YOUR FULL RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
I am currently admitted in the HOSPITAL .
God be with you.
[DELETED]
This is one of the best-formatted scam e-mails we have seen and the language of the scammer is not that bad either. You can clearly sense the way the scammer is playing on the feelings of the recipient of the e-mail. If this person can't even trust his/her own family, how can he/she trust a total stranger? The swindler is terminally ill and currently admitted in hospital and cannot distribute the money, but he/she has the time and energy of sending out scam e-mails to complete strangers. A little bit too convenient, don't you think?
