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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: "johnsonwahab" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr-johnson001@live.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:34:04 +0800
Subject: indicate your approval.

I am Johnson Wahab, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine has bequeathed you as His Heir, who died as a result of Heart-Related problem due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 - 2:50 p.m. ET as reported on:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html.

I understand that through Internet is not the best way to link up with you because of the confidentiality which my proposal demands.
However, I have already sent you this same letter one month ago, but I am not sure if it did get to you since I have not heard from you, hence i am constrain to reach you through the Internet which has been abused over the years.

I'm contacting you as the Heir to approve the release of the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at twenty Eight million dollars (US$28 million dollars)is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact you (Heir), or the account will be confiscated.
My proposition to you is to seek your consent and approval as the Heir and beneficiary of my late client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you as His Heir. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's Heir will be provided. All I require is your approval about this and your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If this mail proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision is,while I await your prompt response.
Please contact me at once to

EMAIL:(barr-johnson001@live.com)
TEL: +60164279256

Best regards,
Barrister Johnson Wahab.,
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