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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: "ROBERT SOLOMON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <solomonrobert@live.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2011 01:53:37 +0100
Subject: Law Firm of SJS Solicitors

I represent the Law Firm of SJS Solicitors, a firm that is into asset management. I have e-mailed you earlier without a response. In my previous mail I mentioned about my late client a national of your country whose relatives I cannot get in touch with but both of you have the same surname, making it suitable to present you as the beneficiary and official next of kin? I am compelled to do this because I would not want the bank to direct my client’s fund into the bank treasury as unclaimed inheritance.

This mail is written and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as the next of kin to my late client since you are a foreigner and only you can lay claims on this fund. The governing body of the bank has contacted me severally on this issue and I am yet to provide the next of kin for the claim of this fund. Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to be presented as the beneficiary so that my late client's fund will not be confiscated as specified by the bank.

For the sake of transparency on this substance, you are free to make immediate contact with me for further clarification and explanation. I will need you also to reconfirm your full names and contact telephone number to ascertain the fact that I am dealing with the right person.

Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while I expect your prompt response to this as the urgency demand.

Faithfully,

Mr Robert Solomon.
Law Firm of SJS Solicitors.
London, SW12 9AG

Anti-fraud resources: