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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: "Bar. Douglas Gibbons" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrister.douglas.gibbons@mailbox.sk>
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:02:11 +0800
Subject: Hello Dear : {Urgent} Read and reply ASAP

DOUGLAS GIBBONS
CHAMBERS
SOLICITOR AND ADVOCATES
LONDON-ENGLAND
UNITED KINGDOM.


I wish to intimate you with a request that would be of immense benefit to both of us. Being an executor of WILL, it is possible that we may be tempted to make fortune out of our client situations, when we cannot help it, or left with no better option. The issue I am presenting to you is about my client who WILL a fortune to his next-of-kin. It was most unfortunate that he and his next-of-kin died on the same day in the Trancoso, Bahia plane crash of Friday 22nd May, 2009. I am now faced with confusion of who to pass the fortune to.

According to the English law, the fortune is supposed to be bequeathed to the government. However, My late client is a A British-born businessman with South American father and mother, I don't belong to that school of thought which proposes that the fortune of unlucky people be given to the government. My purpose of contacting you is to seek your assistance to act as the benefactor of the WILL, and lay claim to the legacy (8.7 Million GBP), in a secret bank account which this my unfortunate client bequeathed to his next-of-kin. For now, it is only known to me, as my client has great confidence in me, I have concrete proofs of this account and deposit, this is not a fairy tale or like the normal bulk emails you receive, this is real. The share would be 40% for you and 60% for me.

All I have to do is to amend the WILL stating you as the beneficiary to the (8.7 Million GBP). All i need is a financier to finance the paper works, there are mandatory amendments to be carried out on 3 required documents which is a changing of name from that of the initial benefactor who died alongside his father in the crash, to your name giving you Legal rights to claim these funds, As I am yet to get your consent on this issue, I prefer not to go deep into details so as not to risk being debarred. The English Bar considers it a breach of the oath of the English bar Council. I need not emphasize to you that the sensitivity of this issue need not be toyed with by neglecting its confidentiality.

Due to the risk involve in this transaction, until I am sure of your consent, full cooperation and genuine willingness to finance this project financially for our mutual benefit, I would prefer that we maintain correspondence by email and phone. At this point I want to assure you that your true consent, full cooperation and confidentiality are all that are required for us to take full advantage of this great opportunity.

Please kindly note that amending the paper works required will cost us some little amount of money, Please if you are not willing to cooperate with me and let us both finance this transaction there wont be any need you reply to this email as time is of the essence here and i don't have any to waste, this is an opportunity that people rarely have and this is one little sacrifice we have to make to speedily archive success on this transaction, I look forward to hearing from you soon.


Yours Sincerely,
Barrister. Douglas E. Gibbons
Tel: +44-702-405-7943
Email: barrister.douglas.gibbons@mailbox.sk

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