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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 Francis Lim" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <francislim06@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23.44.07 +0200
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED !!!

Attn Friend,

I am H.Francis Lim, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, who died as the result of a heart-related condition on the 11th November, 2006. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Passenger plane that crashes in Russia July 9th, 2006 11:13 GMT 12:13 UK as reported on :http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5162082.stm
http://russiancrash.we.bs/crash.html

I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my Late client before it is confiscated or declared un-serviceable by the Bank where this deposit valued at Three Million Nine Hundred And Thirteen Thousand GBP is lodged, [?3,913,000m]. This Bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.

My proporsal to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name with my Late client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then 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 as soon as possible to indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible via email this transaction will be treated private with absolute confidentiality and sincerity.

Best regards,
Barr. Francis Lim

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