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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: Bernard Dominic <ben_dominicx02@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:51:01 +1000 (EST)
Subject: Dear Gerard van Coevorden, your assistance is needed.


Dear Gerard van Coevorden,

I am Barrister Bernard Dominic, a solicitor at law and a partner in Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. I am the personal attorney to Douglas van Coevorden, an American who used to work with SHELL Oil Producing Company in Britain; Hereinafter shall be referred to as my client.

On the 21st of April 2004, my client, his wife and their only son were involved in a car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my client's 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 hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$28.5 million left behind by my client before it gets Confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge amount were deposited. The said bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.

For the fact that I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over one year now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Thereafter, I propose that the funds will be shared in the following ratio:60% for me, 40% for you.

I shall ensure that all relevant information and legal documents that may be needed to actualize this transaction is provided. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

If you are interested, write me back through this email: ben_dominic01@yahoo.com.au forwarding your telephone numbers and contact information.

Best Regards.

Barrister Bernard Dominic.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
London, U.K.

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