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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: "Barrister Ernest Kruger [ESQ]" <barristerernestkruger3@yahoo.com>
Date: 12 Aug 2009 05:00:07 -0700
Subject: Dating 101: Reviving Your Relationship


Your friend, Barrister Ernest Kruger [ESQ] (barristerernestkruger3@yahoo.com) has sent you this information from Yahoo! Personals.
(Email address has not been verified.)

Personal message:
Kruger Chambers
1st Floor,146A Oak Ave, Pretoria
South Africa
Email:barriernestkruger@live.com

Dear Next of Kin

I am Mr. Ernest Kruger an international lawyer and a senior advocate based here in South Africa . A deceased client of mine, who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a heart-related condition on the 15th May2000. The cause of his heart failure was as a result of new Land Act reform introduced by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few black farmers. All they have suffered to accrued for years where taken away from them. And also the death of his wife and his only son contributed a lot to his death. Go to news;http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/africa/jan-june00/zimbabwe_4-21.html
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars. ($8,500.000.00 USD).was lodged in Escrow Account. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated. I seek for your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name with him, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. As all my efforts to trace my late client's relative through international data over 12 months prove abortive. Now the South African Reserve Bank has posted the $8.5M to U.S Clearing House and they will transfer the fund to the Federal Reserve Bank if i don't present next of kin in the next 21 working days.
All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest and sincere 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 business 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, while I
await your prompt response. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest with your address, phone number and full names again for me to be sure that i contacted the exact person bearing the same last name with my late client.

Reply to my private email barriernestkruger@live.com
Barrister Ernest Kruger [ESQ]

Dating 101: Reviving Your Relationship
http://dating.personals.yahoo.com/singles/relationships/24288/dating-101-reviving-your-relationship

Yahoo! Personals
http://personals.yahoo.com/

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