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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: "Middelton" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smm78@lajt.hu>
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 17:22:43 -0800
Subject: Partner with me

CARTWRIGHT BLACKWELL & SIDNEY UK
SOLICITORS & NOTARY PUBLIC
36 WEST BUTE STREET, CARDIFF BAY CF105UA
FAX; 44-7092867584 TEL; 44-70111 64025
Email; cartwrightblack@yahoo.co.uk

I am Michael S. Middleton a private Attorney cum Investment agent to the late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, wife of the former Nigerian President, General. Olusegun Obasanjo. She died on Sunday 23 of October 2005 at a Spanish Hospital during a surgery operation which resulted in complications leading to her demise.

As the private Attorney to the deceased, I handled almost every one of her foreign transactions mostly property and funds in overseas. In a particular incidence shortly before her death, my clients keft a huge amount with an investments and safe deposit firm with my signature under my supervision and management.
It is my intention to appropriate this good fortune to myself and family but under British Property law, I can not acquire this by myself being a trustee of the deceased.

At the moment, my client's family have completed the Probate Reports concerning all known and listed property / assets except this one which was not reported by me.
I therefore wish to ask you personally for cooperation / assistance to receive this funds through the instrumentatlity of direct cash delivery to your base for our own use.

Consequently, I wish to seek your consent to present you as the beneficiary to my client's fund deposited in Europe which details I will disclose to you subsequently. I have all the documents regarding the deposit, With your help I shall procure all necessary legal documentation required to make you legal beneficiary.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through together, in a very short moment.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and myself from any breach of the law.

You may view the website: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/10/23/obasanjo.obituary/index.html

Please send a reply e-mail to me with your details to commence operation.

I believe my letter will be treated with curtesy and discretion as I await your response.

Contact me on my private email Address: ( E-mail; smm78@tvn.hu ) not lawfirm email.

You may call my phone numbers directly for verbal discussion.

Respectfully yours,

Barrister Michael S. Middleton (Associate Partner)

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