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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 by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "peter evans" <peter_evanson@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: peter_evans_esq@yahoo.ie
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:52:05 +0100
Subject: INVITATION AS NEXT OF KIN

From:Barrister Peter Evanson Esq.,
Hartwig Chambers,
Legal Practitioner,
Solicitor and Advisor.
101 park lane,Apapa,
Lagos-Nigeria


INVITATION AS NEXT OF KIN
..........................


ATTN:Sir/Madam

I write this letter in confidence, believing that it will reach you in high
spirit and that you will maintain the level of confidence and trust that
this transaction requires.

Although,this proposal may make you apprehensive and worried, but I assure
you that after carefully reading it, you will understand what it is all
about.
Before proceeding,I wish to introduce myself,I am a barrister at law and the
principal consultant of Hartwig Chambers (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS).

I am the legal adviser and counsel to Pitt Williams (deceased) an oil
merchant and expatriate contractor who used to work with Zenith Oil and Gas
Company here in Nigeria,herein shall be referred as my client.

Late Pitt Williams until his untimely death some years ago in a plane crash
on the 26th of December 2003 in cotonou,Benin Republic which claimed all
occupant aboard the airline.

You will read more stories about the crash on visiting this,
website:(www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.cra).

Had an account with Fidelity Bank Plc here in Nigeria valued at about
USD$18.2M (Eighteen Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
which the bank now expects a next-of-kin to claim as beneficiary.

I have made valuable efforts to get in touch with any of the Williams's
family or relatives but there has been no success, I have even written to
his embassy for assistance but that did not also yield any success.

It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any
of late Pitt Williams's next-of-kin who died with his wife and two children
who are supposed to be the next of kin that I am now contacting you.

The bank wants to declare the funds "UNCLAIMABLE" in another 3 months from
now,if nobody stands as the next of kin and will subsequently donate it to
the Trust Fund of the Brain Child of late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, Nigerian's
former first Lady which to me is fraudulent.

In order to prevent this, I now seek your permission to have you stand as
the next-of-kin to Late Pitt Williams so his deposited funds of USD$18.2M
would be released and paid to you as late Pitt Williams next of kin.

All documents to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out and I
guarantee that this transaction will be executed within the legal frame to
protect you from any legal consequences before and after the transaction.

I and my trusted Colleagues have agreed that, the funds be shared thus,
after it must have been transferred into your account.

1. 30% of the money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of the
funds.
2. 10% will be set aside for reimbursement to both parties for any
incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course of the transaction.
3. 60% to us as the originators of the transaction.

If this proposal is acceptable to you, then take
advantage of the trust we have bestowed on you, kindly send your reply as
quickly as possible to my private email address: peter_evans_esq@yahoo.ie.

As soon as I receive your acceptance in principle,I will furnish you with
the necessary modalities for commencement.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.

Yours sincerely,

Barrister Peter Evanson Esq.

_________________________________________________________________
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