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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: "tom chriss" <tom@chrissassociates.com>
Reply-To: bernardhovarth@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 05 Sep 2005 10:26:34 +0000
Subject: Notification of Bequest

From: Tom Chriss, Esq.(For Trustees)
Managing Partner(Peter & Philips)

Notification of Bequest
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Jude
Horward, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned
undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address
on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Engr. Jude Horward made you a
beneficiary to his will. He left the sum of Nine Million One Hundred
Thousand Dollars (USD$9,100.000.00 )to you in the codicil and last testament
to his will.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.
Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the
past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends
abroad who wished you good. Engr. Jude Horward until his death was a former
managing director and pioneer staff of a giant construction company(JULIUS
BERGER). He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great
philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time. Late Engr.
Jude Horward died on the 7th day of Jul 2004 at the age of 82 years, and his
WILL is now ready for execution.

According to him this money is to support your Christian activities and to
help the poor and the needy. Please If I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor
to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. You
should forward along your current telephone number, including your current
mailing address. I hope to hear from you in no distant time.

Yours in His service,
Tom Chriss, Esq.


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