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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: "Ms. Lindsay Harley" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ms.lindsayhaley@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 11:04:32 -0700
Subject: I wait your reply

Hi Dear,
 
Good day. I know this letter might come to you as a surprise considering the fact that we have not seen each   other in real life before. I am Ms. Lindsay Harley 20 years British Citizen and my late father's name Mr. Davies Harley, who was a Top Government official here in London before he was shot to death on the 26th October 2012 in Syria on his business trip. 
 
Meanwhile, my reason of writhing is to seek for your assistance to help me retrieve 45.9 Million Euro, which my late father left under a Bank in Cotonou Benin with my name as the next of kin.  Since the death of my father, my uncle has sold our 2 companies in Newcastle and Ireland, so when I noticed and ask him, he threatened to kill me if I ever said that again.  As I was completing on how to move on with my life, I now contacted our account officer, who advice me to look for a foreign partner that can stand to claim the money as a foreign associate of my family.  Hence I contacted you.
 
In appreciation I will compensate you with 38% out of the money for your kind help and assistance, while you shall help me invest the balance in any lucrative business investment in your country, thereafter I shall come over to complete my education carrier over there.  Please If interested, get back to me urgently for more details and to proceed.
 
I wait to hearing from you.
 
Thanks a lot and God Bless you.
Sincerely.
Ms. Lindsay Harley
 

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