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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: Owen Foster <fos-ter2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <owen@owenfoster.net>
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 12:08:27 +0000
Subject: From The Desk Of:Barr.Owen Foster.


From The Desk Of:Barr.Owen Foster.(OWEN FOSTER & ASSOCIATE LTD)Tel:+447864117373Fax:+447005810343Email:grillomark1@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Partner

I am Barrister Owen Foster. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr.Morris Thompson an American who unfortunately lost his
life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter. You shall read more about the crash on visiting this website.http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/
Since then I have made several enquiries to his Embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has
also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the
Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you for your assistance .
I contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged with the BANK in UK.This is
the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about £10.5 million Pounds.
Conseqently,The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next
fourteen official working days,Please see the website below for a list fund awaiting inheritance and if not inherited will be confisticated by the British Government as unclaimed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/tv_and_radio/heirhunters_index.shtml
since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 7 years now I seek your consent to present you as
the next of kin of the deceased before the British Government will confisticate the claim,since you are not his
relative so that the proceeds of this account valued at £10.5 million Pounds can be paid to you and then you and me
can share the money.60% to me and 30% to you,while 10% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.
We intend to effect the transfer within a few days from the date of receipt of the following information:
1)Your name,2) companys name,3) address4) telephone and fax numbers,
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please get in touch with me by my Fax number,email address above or phone to enable us discuss further and send me
your fax and telephone number.
Please Reply to my private emailaddress:grillomark1@yahoo.co.uk

Best regards,Barr.Owen Foster
_________________________________________________________________
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