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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: "Mathew Baker.ESQ" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mathew.baker645@googlemail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:22:17 +0100
Subject: Your Response Is Needed...

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Matthew Baker, an attorney in London. A client of mine by the name of Alh. Slamet Hassan died in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, together with his wife and family, as a result of the deadly tsunami.

Please log on to the following Web sites for more about the tsunami:
www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/tsunami.disaster/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

The main reason I'm contacting you is to ask that you assist me in ensuring that the funds lodged by my late client with a financial institution abroad do not get declared unclaimed because he died with his wife and children.

The financial institution has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or else the funds will be confiscated. My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next of kin and beneficiary of my late client so that the proceeds of the funds can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on the basis of mutually agreed-to percentages.


If you are willing to assist me in this venture, I will establish verbal communication with you by telephone and Email so as to give you a much better picture of the situation.

Best regards,
Barrister Matthew Baker.
Sunlight House, Quay Street, 3rd Floor
Manchester M3 3JZ
England

Anti-fraud resources: