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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: "barrister lewis" <barristerlewis3@msn.com>
Reply-To: barristerlewis123@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 01:48:43 +0000
Subject: I NEEDED URGENT REPLY.

EQUITY CHAMBERS
(ATTORNEYS&COUNSELORS AT LAW)
FEDERAL HIGH COURT BENIN
WHITE-HOUSE BUILDING,
14 DEGBAGO CRESCENT,
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
EMAIL- barristerlewis123@yahoo.fr


Attn:My Dear,

Compliments,I Barrister LEWIS MUMA have decided to bestow this trust on you,
which I pray you will not ignore or betray.I appologize in advance for any
inconviniences this may cause you. I am Barrister LEWIS MUMU the Personal
Attorney to late Mr. George K.Marshal, who was a contractor here in Benin
Rep.Who DIED, on December 2003, with his entire family were perished in Air
-Crash on board from Cotonou.View the below site for more information.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm
As a matter of fact, My client made a fixed deposit Amount, valued at
(USD$15.7M) with FINANCIAL Bank here in Benin Rep, and upon the duration
time of their agreement,His Bank started contacting him but no response.
Conseqently, The Bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to the
deceased as his personal attorney,or have his account confiscated after
four years, as it is in the law of this country.

Since then, I have made several contacts to His Countries Embassy in order
to locate any of my clients extended relatives,which had also been
unsuccessful. Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for
over two years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased since none of his relatives were no way to be found so that the
proceeds of this account valued at $15.7m could be transffered into your
account, thereafter,we will both share it in percentage according to our
contributions to boost the success of this great transaction. I have all the
necessary legal documents that can be used to back up all the claims we will
make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us make this great
benefiting transaction successfully.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me as
fast as possible through mail:

barristerlewis123@yahoo.fr
and through phone also, to enable us discuss further the progress of this
business.

With best regards,

Hon:LEWIS MUMU , Esq,

Senior advocate of Benin(SAB).


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