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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: "BARR. Z. PETER" <barristerpeterzwennes@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: <BarristerPeterZwennes@mail.mn>
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:37:12 -0400
Subject: Re: Treat As Urgent

Dear Sir, Before I proceed I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you. Am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to start a relationship, but as time goes on you will realize the need for my action. I am Barrister Peter R. Zwennes, a legal practitioner, and the personal attorney to late Mr. Zhu Li a contractor with Gold Mining Company here in Accra Ghana, he used to be my client. On the 8th September 1998, he died in the Plane crash of Swissair Flight 111 which was air in CNN, reference: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissa...ist/index.html Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$16.5 million meant for the contract he executed with the Gold Mining Company here in Accra Ghana, left behind by my client before it was confiscated or declared unserviceable by the GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK LTD where this huge amount were deposited. The said GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK LTD has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next twenty one (21) working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Best Regards, Peter R. Zwennes.

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