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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: "A.G Furness" <furness01testament@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 16:02:24 +0000
Subject: Good day:

The Testament

Hello,

Please do not be surprised on receiving this email.

Though we might not have a personal relationship or

have met each other, we could work together on this

project I am about to introduce to you. First, I would

like to introduce myself. My name is A.G. Furness

(Attorney). Certain funds have been left behind by my

late client, below are the details.

Being that she was my client, I was her confidant as

she shared with me virtually everything about her

business and family. I was her attorney for 13years

and during that period I wrote her WILL and was also

named as the executor. I am also aware due to our

cordial relationship that she deposited Twelve Million

Pounds with a bank in England that was not mentioned

in her WILL. She told me about it and asked me to

prepare a codicil to reflect the money. However before

this could be completed, she died.

After her death, funeral and subsequent execution of

her WILL, I went into action to establish the

information passed unto me by my client. My findings

agreed with the information. At that point, I knew I

had to do something to move the funds out of the bank.

Bearing at the back of my mind that I cannot do this

alone, I have decided to contact you and seek your

assistance and acceptance to be the next of kin to the

estate.

Aside my humble self and you, the relationship manager

(Account Officer) of my client knows about this. He

was very helpful during my investigation. Through him

I was able to see the deposit paper work of the money

that confirmed that there is no next of kin to the

funds. It is necessary for us to move the money out of

the bank on time before it will be regarded as sundry

funds, which would give the bank the right to claim

the money.

I cannot move the money in my name because she was my

client and it could create suspicion. Her account

officer also cannot do the same, hence the importance

of your assistance. Have my assurance that there is

nothing to fear about, as we also need your assurance

that you would work with me with a high degree of

honesty and sincerity to achieve our desired

objective. The legal procedure is no problem for I

would be responsible. Since the codicil was not ready

before her death, a letter of administration without

WILL would be secured from the probate office. With

this letter I would personally apply on your behalf to

the bank for the release of the funds to you.

Below is required from you to enable us achieve the

above;

Names

Address

Date of Birth

Telephone and Fax numbers

Upon receipt of a confirmation of acceptance from you,

a sharing ratio would be worked out between the three

of us and communicated to you along with my telephone

number.

Thanking you in anticipation of your co-operation.

Sincerely,

A.G. Furness

SEND CORRESPONDENCE TO: furness121@uk2.net

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