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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: "Kenny Well" <barr_kennywell04@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 20:25:20 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED THIS IS CONFIDENTIAL

KENNY WELL CHAMBERS,
LEGAL PRACTITIONER AND PUBLIC NOTARY &
HIGH COURT REPRESENTATIVE
SUITE 202 OMEGA PLAZA, APAPA
LAGOS - NIGERIA.
MY PRIVATE EMAILbarr_kennywell34@myway.com

(MATTER OF TOP SECRET)


ATTN Sir/Ma

It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a suprise.
This is because we have not met before but i am inspired to sending you this
email by the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefit
to the two of us. However, I am Kenny Well,the personal Attorney to the late
Engr.Steve Moore a national of Isle of Man in UK,
who used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) in Nigeria.
On the 21st of April 1996, my client,his wife And their three children were
involved in a car ghastly accident along Sagamu/Lagos Express Road.
Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, Since
then I have made several enquiries to several Embassies to locate any of my
clients extended relatives,this has also proved
unsuccessful After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace
his relatives over the Internet,i got your email in the ministry of commerce
and industry of my country. however i try to locate any member of his
family,s but of no avail, hence I contacted you.
I contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind
by my client,I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you
are the only surviving relation of my client.
otherwise the Estate he left behind will be confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about
$37million U.S dollars(twenty seven million U.S.America
dollars).Conseqently, The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin
or have the account confiscated within the next ten
official working days.
since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the the relatives for over
several years now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued
at $37million U.S dollars can be paid to your account and then you and me
can share the money. 55%to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses
or tax as your government may require. I have all necessary legal documents
that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your
honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. I will want you to send to me
on with the following informations. in favour of both of us so that i will
use it to prepare the whole documents required for this transactions. I
await your kind response,Please if you are interested and capable in
handling this transactions with me, Do get back to me Asap with the
following informations.

1, Your full Name,
2, Your contact Address
3, Your private phone,mobile and fax numbers for easy
communicating to each others.

reply me through my private mail for security reasons.
barr_kennywell34@myway.com

Your,s Faithfully,
barrister Kenny Well(Esq)


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