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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: "Fred Brown" <fredbrown_13@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: fredbrown_01@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:31:01 +0000
Subject: DEAR TRUSTEE

Dear Friend,
Top of the day i wish you.

I quite know my mail will suprise you and make you think otherwise for the
fact that we haven't known each other before. However, as you read down my
mail, you will understand that contacting you is not by accident rather it
is handwork of God Almighty.

I am Barrister Fred brown, Personal Attorney to Engr. Michael Tibor,
national of your country, who used to work with Chevron Petroleum Company
Plc Nigeria.

On the 25Th of July 2000, my client, his wife and their three children were
involved in a Air France concord plane crash bound for New York with his
family, you can read more on the link website below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the crash, since
then I have made several inquiries to your Embassy 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.I
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money in addition, property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the Bank Where this huge deposits were lodged.Particularly, the Bank where
the deceased had an account valued at US$10 Million Dollars.

Consequently, the Bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have
the Account confiscated by the bank/Government of Nigeria within the next 30
official working days.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the the
relatives For over 5 years now I seek your honsent to present you as the
next of kin of the deceased since you are bearing the same sure Name with my
client, So that the proceeds of this Account valued at US$10 Million dollars
can be paid to you and then you and we share the money in ratio of 50% to me
and 40% to you, while 10% should be for expenses or taxes your Government
may require. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to
back up any claim we may make.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. Please your urgent respond is
needed to thismatter, as I will advice you contact me to discuss further.

Best Regards,
Barrister Fred Brown(Esq)

_________________________________________________________________
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