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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: "Willaims & Spencer Solicitors " <williamspencer@nonifamily.net>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 06:32:21 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Williams & Spencer Solicitors /Reply Asap

Williams & Spencer Solicitors
7 Bolt Court,
London EC8A 5DQ
Tell: 44-7040128419
Tell: 44-7011121011
Fax: 44-87-1247-2209


Attn Sir/Madam,

I am Williams F Higgins A legal practitioner based in united Kingdom.
I am the personal attorney to Dr. George Brumley who was a consultant
with Shell UK LTD here in London, who shall be referred to as my
client.
On the 21st of July 2003, my client Dr. George Brumley and his family
were involved in a fatal plane crash in Nairobi Kenya, West Africa.
Unfortunately my client Mr. George and his family lost their lives.
Here is the website of the incident that struck on that faithful day.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html

Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients
extended relatives and this has proved unsuccessful.
After my several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his
family hence I contacted you.

I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by
my client before they get confiscated or declared unclaimed by the
security company where this huge deposit were lodged.
Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had the said fund
valued at USD20 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the
next of kin.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3
years, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $20 Million
Dollars can be paid to your account abroad, you will have 30% of the
money for your role while I will have 60% and 10% for expenses that we
may incur in the cause of processing the claim.

I have access to all necessary legal documents that can be used to
back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest
co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please kindly get back to me through my email address or personal
phone number for confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax
numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction.
Best regards,
Yours in Service,
Williams F Higgins Esq

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