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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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Fraud email example:

From: "UK BASED LAWYER" <cpung@zwallet.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 16:32:58 +0200
Subject: RE: NEXT OF KIN / BENEFICIARY

Paul Harden & Co
Swan Centre, Fishers Lane
Chiswick London, W4 1RX. UK.
Email:- paulharden@zwallet.com


Attn: President / CEO

With great pleasure I am writing this proposal on behalf of my chambers. I got your information through my personal search on the internet, hence I decided to seek your cooperation, due to the sensitivity of this transaction and my commitment as a lawyer.

I am Barrister Paul Harden from UK, representing Mr. Martin Greenberg, a foreigner, Engineer by profession, who he died since 1999, in an Egypt Air crash, on the 31st October along with other passengers on board.

Before his death, he has a huge sum of (US$25.5) which no other person knew about, which he intended to invest in Southern part of Africa. This fund has NO other beneficiary and I have the original documents of Deposit and claim the amount involved is (US$25.5M) Twenty Five Millions five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. The fund is rigth now under the custody of a Security Company, which I will not like to disclose at the moment until I confirm your willingness to assist me in this project.

Early this year, the Security Company wrote me a letter, since I was his lawyer, asking me to present his NEXT OF KIN, to enable them release the said funds.

My constraint is to be able to source a foreign partner who is honest and trustworthy individual, so that I can present to the Security Company as the NEXT OF KIN of the Late Mr. Greenberg so that the fund can be release to you.

If you will act as trustee and willing to assist me in this transaction, your share as compensation will be (20% ), while I receives (70%) and the balance of (10%) for taxes and other miscellaneous expenses. This transaction is 100% risk free provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality and also with my position and a Barrister, I will perfect
all the necessary documents on your name as soon as you are ready to do this deal with me.

Endeavour to email me the following information at paulharden@zwallet.com

Names, Address, Phone and Fax Numbers, Age, Sex, Marital Status and Occupation.


Thank you and God Bless,

Barrister. Paul Harden
ATTORNEY -AT- LAW




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