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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: simon25@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 04:05:19 -0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?I=20AM=20Barrister=20Simon=20Williams=2E=2E=2E?=

contact me with this email:
(barrister_simon_williams1@yahoo.fr)

Dearest,

I am Mr. Simon Williams, an attorney at law. A deceased client of Mine,
by name Mr. Andrew Parker, who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client,
died as the result of a heart-related condition in November 2002. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client
before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this
deposit valued at 12.million dollars is lodged.

This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the Account
will be confiscated because there is a government gazzette/mandate/authorising
all banks to freeze or confiscate any account that has not been serviceable
in a long period of time, this is geared towards capital flight for the
economy.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the Next-of-kin
and beneficiary of my named client, so that the proceeds Of this account
can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon
percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin
will be provided.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction
through. This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law.
If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology
but if not, then contact me at once to indicate your interest, by giving
me your telephone number, fax number and your address so that I too can
contact you.

Regards,

contact me with this email:(barrister_simon_williams1@yahoo.fr)

Barrister Simon Williams.



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