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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: "Prime Chambers" <pmsolicitors@primechambers.net>
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 10:44:23 +0000
Subject: From: Mr Jeffs (Confidential)

Michael R. Jeffs
London,
United Kingdom.
Tel/Fax : +44 704-010-4555
E-mail: pmsolicitors@primechambers.net
My Greetings,

Attn: Dear,

I want to introduce myself and this business opportunity to you. My name is
Richard M. Jeffs, U.S Citizen based in London, United Kingdom and a
barrister. I understand that this will come to you as a Surprise. I am
contacting your for assistance on behalf of my lost client.

It was a faithful day of 2nd may 1999 one of my clients, a German
national,who is also a property magnate, made a series of (Fixed)Deposit,
valued at $2,260,000.00 (Two Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand US
Dollars) with a bank here in London. Upon the Maturity, A notification was
sent to me as his Attorney who drafted the whole official documents he used
in fixing up this money.

As regards to this, I consult you to be of assistance because I will like to
present you to the bank as his next of kin since he, together with his
family was aboard the ill fated AF4590 plane, which crashed Monday, 31st
July, 2000 into the Hotelissimo. For further enquries visit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

As his lawyer, I want you to know that he died without making a WILL and all
attempts to trace his next of kin proved abortive and futile. As a matter of
fact, after series of investigation by the bank, it was discovered that my
Late client Mr. Andreas Schranner did not declare any next of kin or
relatives in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper
with the Bank.

This Fund is still lying there in the bank and the interest is being rolled
over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever and
has come forward to lay claim to it, that is the more reason why I am
seeking for your assistance.

In strict accordance with the British banking laws and constitution, at the
expiration of 7 (Seven) years, the money will revert to the British
Government treasury if nobody applies as the next of Kin to claim the funds.
All I need from you is your consent to present you to the bank as his next
of Kin for the fund to be released into your nominated bank account. Upon
your response, I will furnish you with all verifiable documents and more
information concerning this venture.

I am open for negotiation on your Terms and do guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach
of the law, as I will use my Legal firm to secure approvals and guarantee
the successful execution of this transaction.

Be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required and hope you accord
this peace of information the secrecy it deserves. If this interests
you,please indicate by responding with your Contact details so that I can
furnish you with more proves at my disposal. For more information, please
give me a call or reach me via emai; I Wait your response.
Thanks.

My regards,

Michael R. Jeffs (ESQ)
Principle Partner
Prime Chambers


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