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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: "BARR. STELLA" <henry200@hunds-info.de>
Reply-To: <stella_docsword30@yahoo.com.sg>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:30:14 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY......

Good day,
With all due respect, I would like to introduce myself as Barrister Mrs Stella Brown , an attorney and
close associate of Engr. Albert Hadley, a National of your country, here in after shall be referred to as
my client. My client made (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months. Upon maturity, I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After six days, i sent a reminder and finally i
discovered from his contract employers, that he died in an ill fated auto crash. Before his untimely
death on November 21, 2005, he was an employee of an oil Company in my country.
My client, his wife, and their only two children were involved in a ghastly auto accident.Unfortunately,
all occupants of the vehicle lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to my clients
country's embassy to locate any of his extended relatives, this has
 
also proved unsuccessful. On further investigation, i found out that he died without making a will, and
all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless as he had no children as at the time of death. I
therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare any kin or relations in all
his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper work in my Bank. This sum of $8,311,000.00
is still sitting in his Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each
year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.
I had decided to contact someone trust worthy, who i will present to the bank as his next of kin, since
i have been given authority to do so, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist me in
repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they are confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits 9were lodged, particularly Barcleys Bank ,
Victoria Island Branch where the deceased had an account Valued at about US$8,311,000.00
(Eight million, three hundred and eleven thousand Dollars).
 
As his personal attorney, the bank had Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account confiscated.
Due to the banking law and regulation of 2003, sub section 18d page 103 chapter 11 of constitution
governing all banking policy in United kingdom, and in accordance to the banking decree 003 sub
section 45 which stated that any deposited fund which remains unclaimed after the existing period
of four years will be confiscated by the national treasury department as unclaimed fund.
This has brought much agitation amongst the boards of directors on how to declare this account
unserviceable, based on the fact that my client had no next of kin. After we concluded a meeting
held amongst the senior executives of Barclays Bank Plc on 29th of October, 2009, they all agreed
to extend the date to 19th of February, 2010. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin
to the deceased since since i have the power and authority to do so. I will facilitate all the legal papers
that will enable the bank legitimately recognise you as the bonafide beneficiary. The proceeds of this
account can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money in this ratio, 60% to me and 40%
to you as my foreign partner.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law. I will expect your swift response with the following information to commence the
claim:
 
1) Your Age and Occupation
2) Contact Phone #:
 
 
Or call my cell phone +447024075805.
 
For Sincerity and Justice,
Mrs Stella Brown (esq)

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