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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: "Barrister John Ricardo Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnricardosmith@freeukisp.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:56:19 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend.

Dear Friend,
You do not know me and neither do I know you. I am not desperate nor  in
need of help.I only want to be sure you are the kind of person I can trust
with the following proposal.
I have been very careful in my selection and have taken pains to ensure I
will be dealing with a person that has the intelligence to understand what
I am getting myself into. From the little I have been able to deduce, I
cannot make you agree to partner with me on this but I can assume that
when you are in, I can trust you completely.
I am a UK based lawyer  and I am bringing everything I have to the table;
my reputation and all I have labored for my whole life.  The least I ask
of you, is for you, after hearing the proposal to honestly tell  me if
you are up for it or not, without acting maliciously. That way, I get to
loose nothing and can walk away with my proposal and reputation intact
without actually divulging full details.
I bear the full brunt of any risk involved in this business which I cannot
do alone and you can be rest assured that you will be duly compensated
financially for your involvement. The thing is, anyone can serve but I
chose you. I pray  you don't let me down. For more details if interested
by email(johnricardosmith@freeukisp.co.uk)
The fact of the proposal involves access to millions of Tax-Free United
States Dollars. It is up to you to accept or decline. I am waiting to hear
from you.Time is of the essence.
Yours faithfully,
John Ricardo Smith
johnricardosmith@freeukisp.co.uk
Tel:+44-762-413-2159

Anti-fraud resources: