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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: dorothy cooper <dorothycooper90@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 12:15:08 -0700
Subject: Partnership Business Proposal


*Office Address: No 1 Horse Guards Road,London, UK SW1A 2HQTel:
+44793701432Tel: +44793760689Fax:
+44702407139========================== Attn: Sir,Partnership Business
ProposalI am Mrs. Dorothy Cooper, from London. I work with a Chancellor of
the Exchequer and Second Lord of the Treasury of the United Kingdom. The HM
Treasury, and the reason of this mail is about business transfer of a huge
sum of money from a deceased account. 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 this deal, We decided to
contact you due to the urgency of this business proposal.PROPOSITION;We
discovered an abandoned sum (£15.5 Million British Pounds Sterling) in
an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with
his entire family. Since his death, none of his next-of kin or relations
has come forward to lay claims for this money as the heir. We cannot
release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the
next-of-kin to the deceased. Upon this discovery, we now seek your
permission to have you stand as a next of kin to the deceased as all
documentations will be carefully worked out by us for the funds (£15.5M) to
be released in your favor as the beneficiary's next of kin.Therefore, it
may interest you to know that we have secured from the probate an order of
mandamus to locate any of deceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge
receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavor by
furnishing me with your contact details and valid Telephone Number. Because
as high placed civil servants, we are not allowed by the civil service code
of conduct to own or operate bank accounts outside of our shores. On the
other hand, it is not safe for us to keep the money here due to unstable
political environment. I have been mandated as a matter of trust by my
colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who could work with us
to facilitate transfer of this fund for our benefit, Hence the reason for
this email.My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be
shared as follows: 40% to you as commission for your co-operation and
assistance in facilitating the transfer, 10% has been map out for any
taxation fee that might occur during the course of this transfer while the
remaining 50% belongs to colleagues and I. You will be free to take out
your commission immediately after the money hits your bank account in your
country. Since our objective is to invest the money in a foreign country,
it would be appreciated if you could also help us with advices and
direction on investing into profitable ventures in your country. These
requirements will enable us file letter of claim to the appropriate
departments for necessary approvals in your favor before the transfer can
be made. We shall be compensating you with a million dollars on final
conclusion of this project, while the rest shall be for us. Your share
stays while the rest shall be for us for investment purposes. I find myself
privileged to have this information and this is a great opportunity of a
life time of success without risks.I will be looking forward to hear from
you with your contact details and telephone number.Yours Sincerely, **Mrs.
Dorothy Cooper*
*Chancellor Of The Exchequer and Second Lord Of The Treasury. United
Kingdom.*

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