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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: "Lee Chan Gilbert" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gleechan53@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:20:17 +0800
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

LEE CHAN GILBERT
NO. 101, JALAN PUDU RAYA,
TAMAN DESA RAYA
MALAYSIA
Email: gleechan53@yahoo.com.hk
Direct Tel: +6010-2152125

Attention,

I am Barrister Lee Chan Gilbert, an attorney at law. I discovered your email (address) and information through a comprehensive web email search on directory so I decided to contact you. I know this may sound like a scam, as plenty dubious activities are taking place over the internet today. I assure you that this is authentic.

A deceased client of mine, who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as a result of a heart-related conditions on the 11 November 2001. His heart condition was caused 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 have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank, who is holding this deposit valued at Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars. ($10,600,000.00 USD). The bank has issued a notice to contact the next-of-kin, in the case where no next-of-kin is provided , the account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Once everything is in place we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many 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. I would like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible via my private EMAIL: ( gleechan53@yahoo.com.hk ) and treat this case with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply.

Also include your direct telephone number when contacting me to enable me to call and speak with you.

Best regards,
Lee Chan Gilbert
Attorney at Law

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