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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: "Ricardo Hierro" <ricardohierroo@live.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 21:16:24 +0700
Subject: EXPEDITE ATTENTION




EXPEDITE ATTENTION

Firstly, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by
virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. Though
I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive
and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the
day.

It may surprise you receiving this mail from me, since there was no
previous correspondence between us. My name is Ricardo Hierro of Ebame &
Associados. Attorney to Late Ms. Marlena who lived and died in Spain
during the Tsunami catastrophe of December 2004. My deceased client was
born by two migrant workers that came to Spain in the 50`s and I have been
their attorney.

My client had a balance deposit of $4,402,000.00M (FOUR MILLION, FOUR
HUNDRED AND TWO THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) with a Safe bank here in
Spain. As the attorney to my late client, the bank has mandated me to
present a member of her family heir/inheritor) to make Claims or the
deposited fund will be confiscated and taken to the Bureau of bank
Security as unclaimed.

After preliminary efforts of search for a direct family member which came
to no avail, I was given an ultimatum to look for some relative to come
for the claim or have the fund liquidated and made unserviceable in
accordance with existing laws.

In accordance with the law of inheritance here, it is clearly stated that
whereas the deceased died without living behind an offspring or the
immediate biological family are no longer alive, such as in this
situation, any of the deceased extended relative stands to inherit
whatever property or money left by the deceased. It is on the basis of
this section of the law that I want to present you to the bank since the
deceased has no relation left to inherit this fund. This transaction is
100% risk free because rule of law will be applied. If this works out fine
the ratio will be 50-50.

I earnestly await your response on email: ricardohierroo@live.com or you
can also contact me through Tel-Direct +34 60 25 25 680 for further
clarification. However, if this business proposal offends your moral
ethics, do accept my sincere apology. Thank you.

Your’s in service,

Ricardo Hierro


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