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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: BARRESTER HENRY GEOPHERY <barr_henrygeo1@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 02:29:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: BE SINCIER GUARRANTEE NEEDED.



FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER
HENRY GEOPHERY (Solicitors & Advocates).
Block 244, Flat 5, Rue du Boulevard,
PMB 105, BP/ 1210, Fax:+228-2222252
LOME-TOGO.

ATTN:Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Barrister Henry Geophery , a legal practitioner and the personal attorney to Mr.M. W. Saqi, a national Of your country, who used to work with CIM TOGO for the Development cement Company in Lome Togo.

On the 7th of June 2004, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Lycee express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family.

As regards to this, i get in contact with you to assist in repertrating the fund valued at US$18.3 million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the Finance Firm where this huge amount were deposited.

The said Finance Company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confisicated and the duartion for this operation was noit specified by the Finance company and for this reason i will like us to handle it urgently as we can if you stand in a position to work with me before they will officially bound the fund.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.

Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim.

All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Best Regards,

Barrister Henry Geophery Esq.

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