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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: "barr.maureen harisson" <barr_maureen_har2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: maureenhar@myway.com
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 16:44:30 +0100
Subject: HELLO

BARRISTER MAUREEN HARRISON
245 IKOYI LAGOS
NIGERIA
Email:(maureenhar@myway.com)


Dear FRIEND,

I am sorry for the embarrassment this mail might cause you, as we have
not met before. I am Maureen Harrison(Esq.) personal Attorney to Mr. Henry
Maureen, foreigner, who use to work with The cotsman Publications Ltd here
in London.

On the 2nd of Dec. 2004, my client and his wife, got involved in a car
accident, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.
Since then I have made several enquiries 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, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I
contacted
you to assist in repatriating the fund left behind by my late client because
the bank has asked me as his lawyer to produce his next of kin.

Particularly, Bank have given me a notice to provide the next of kin to
claim the contract valued at about ( 8 Million USD) or have the
amount confiscated, since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives
for over years, now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin
of the deceased since your a foreigner so that the proceeds of this account
valued at ( 8 Million USD) can be paid to you.

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 of your
country and my country too as a professional legal attorney in the field.
Finally, kindly maintain onfidentiality between you and me on this
transaction.
Note:
Some of the lawyers in my office have been planning to divert this
particular amount of money (8 Million USD but they failed
because I never authorized anybody to do that, as the principal attorney of
this estate I hereby urge your assistance to get this fund transfer into
your account legitimately which I am assuring.

Some of my lawyers may contact you in different ways concerning this
claim, but don't respond to them rather do forward to me the message
they send you so that I can get them petitioned by the proper authorities.
Upon your consideration of this transaction, you are hereby asked to send
the following information that I will use to prepare and application on
your behalf as your Legal Counsel representing this claim.

1. Your Full names
2. Your complete Postal Address.
3. Your Telephone number
4. Your fax number
5. Your Occupation.
6. Age/Sex
7. Marital Status.

With these information’s from you, we will proceed with this transaction
as the next of kin to late Mr. Henry. Contact me immediately through my
private mail (maureenhar@myway.com) for details of the business.

I await your urgent response.

Best regards,
Barrister maureen harrison(Esq.)
maureenhar@myway.com

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