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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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Some comments about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "FROM: BARR. JOSEPH RICHMANN (ESQ" <joeer006@yahoo.com.au> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 11:14:25 +0200
Subject:

FROM: BARR. JOSEPH RICHMANN (ESQ)
JOSEPH & ASSOCIATES,GREENBELT ZONE,
4 Albert Embankments, London
SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.

Attention My Good Friend,

I am Barrister JOSEPH RICHMANN (Esq). I had a client who shared the
same surname with you.He was a Citizen of your Country and worked with
MULTI-MEDIA PARTNERS INCORPORATED,London.
On the 2nd of August 2003, my client, his wife and their three children
were involved in a car accident along Manchester Express Road. All occupants
of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
Since then, I have made several frantic enquiries at your Embassy here
in London, to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also
proved no success.After these series of unsuccessful attempts, I
decided to trace his relatives over the internet, to locate any member of his
family ,but to no avail, hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind
by my client before they got it confiscated or declared it unserviceable
by the Finance House where this money was deposited. Particularly and more
seriously, the Finance House where the deceased made a deposit valued
at US$20M. They gave me an ultimatum to provide the next-of-kin within the
shortest possible time or have the funds indefinitely confiscated
within the next ten official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over nine
(9) months now, I therefore seek your consent as a last resort to present
you as the next of kin to the deceased (My Late Client) so that the proceeds
of this deposit valued at US$20M can be paid to you and then you and I
can share the money among ourselves in the following ratio: 60% to me, 40%
to you .
I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up
any claim we may make, all I require is your honest co-operation and
sincerity to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will
be executed under a very legitimate arrangement that will protect both of
us from any breach of the law, and my profession as a lawyer guarantees
that.Thank you for taken your time to go thru my mail and I shall highlight
the necessary steps to take soon as I acknowledge your prompt anticipated
affirmative reply. God bless you!

Most Sincerely,
BARR. JOSEPH RICHMANN (ESQ).
Attorney-At-Law.
GreenBelt Zone,London, Uk.



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