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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: "Barrister Garvin Aboh Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <g.arvinaboh@mail.mn>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 22:19:24 -0700
Subject: Re: ARE YOU AWARE REGARDING YOUR INHERITANCE???

Please I will like to know if you have hired Attorney John Palmer as your representative towards the collection of your Inheritance with the deposit company. Because am corresponding to the Email claims I daily receive from Attorney John Palmer. That you have requested and hired his services as your representative Attorney to make the collection of your $1.5Million USD inheritance estate cheque funds collection.
 
I will not oblige to his request, the reason is because you have not personally notify me about his coming and also after making consultations with the law suit Chamber he claimed he represent. I was told such name do not exist with the law firm either in the past or present. Without wasting much time, I have taken your cheque inheritance collection to the finance ministry to de-activate the Encrypted code been placed on it by your benefactor. All this activity was done by me last week to enable me conclude the final phase of your transaction with the finance ministry.
 
Meanwhile, I have received response from the Deposits company that they have received your package collection Friday last week at about 14:00 GMT. Because they were the issuing bank deposits company that notify me earlier that you have a package collection consignment for pick up as bestowed in the last will document of your late relative who issued you this inheritance $1.5Million USD payment cheque in your name. So as the attorney to the deceased, I was out-rightly informed about your collections, which prompt me to take decisive actions immediately by following what was stated in her will papers.
 
Once again, I hope and pray you use your Inheritance collection payment as issued to you wisely by investing with it and paying One tenth of it as your tithe to any Red Cross society or orphanage homes near you in helping a soul today.
 
Furthermore, your compliance towards this E-mail is highly anticipated, to enable the deposit company remit your inheritance payment cheque to you immediately, thank you.
 
I really want to know your stands on this matter before I pull OFF.
 
Signed:
Barrister Garvin Aboh Esq
Legal Consultant on Mortgage Equity.
 

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