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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: "David P. Marsh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <d.marsh1656@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 16:18:17 +0100
Subject: CONTACT ME ASAP.

Hello,

I am David Marsh manager claims department with BNP Paribas here in London United Kingdom. I wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of Twelve Million Five Hundred thousand British pounds in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. (Name now withheld since this is our second letter to you). I am contacting you because you bear the surname identity and therefore I can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance. I therefore reckoned that you can receive these funds as you are qualified by your name identity.

All the legal papers that will be used to process the payment will be handled by me, in your acceptance to co-operate with me on this deal. Kindly forward to me your letter of acceptance; and confirm your full name, current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable me file in necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money to you.
Please contact me via my private email: d.marsh1656@gmail.com

So we can get this done immediately.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,
David Marsh.

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