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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: Bouraima Lucas <bluca667@centrum.cz>
Date: Sat, 08 May 2010 17:37:45 +0200
Subject: Letter from VIRGIN LAW FIRM, read and reply.


VIRGIN LAW FIRM.
Level 9 (G2), Main Office Tower
Judiciary Park Complex
21 Rue de Blvd, Decon
Lome Togo.

Good day to you,
 
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although, I wish to use this medium to get in touch with you because of it's fastest means.
 
I am Barrister Bouraima Lucas, the solicitor and executor of late Engr B. N. Fah "Will" and "Testament"; who died of kidney cancer with no surviving wife and children. I am contacting you to stand in as a next of kin to his deposit of (US$7,200,000.00 - Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars.), with one of the leading banks here in West Africa.
 
On confidence of patent recovering, I will give you more information, hence you will corporate with my due understanding and knowledge of bringing this claim to a best conclusion. For further correspondence and confirmation, I will furnish you with detailed clarification on receipt of your response with documents of deposit for prove. Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this claim would be most profitable for both of us and it is 100% risk free.
 
I look forward hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested and please reply to my private email on (lucasma6677@hotmail.com)

Regards,
 
Barrister Bouraima Lucas.

Anti-fraud resources: