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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: "Mark Richardson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markrichardson34@live.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 19:36:44 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend
I am Mr. Mark Richardson From Madrid Spain. Working with lacaixa Bank I am writing you from my office that will be of mutual benefit to both of us. Our Late Client from your country who died on August 20, 2008 5:53 PM Madrid Plane Crash. My bank where our Late Client Made Bank Deposit of 920,000 (nine hundred and twenty thousand Euro) has contact me base on the fact that my signatory was found on the Fund deposit agreement letter made between the late client and my bank as a witness.
Bank is asking me to locate the late client relatives for them to claim the fund. I have made several enquiries to locate any of the clients extended relatives to come and claim his fund has also proved unsuccessful. I decided to contact you since you have the same family name to present you to the bank to claim the fund as the nest of kin to the late client.
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this fund can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money, 50% to me and 50% for you. I will work out all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this claim, all I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by my private secured and confidential Email or telephone bellow immediately you acknowledge the good receipt of this message, do not forget to send me your direct telephone number, so that I can put a call through to you for an extensive discussion on this transaction.
Anticipating your prompt response.
Email: markrichardson34@live.com
Yours Faithfully,
Mark Richardson
Tel.+34 615 571 590

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