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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: "Mr. Dennis Lawrence." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr_denisslwarence@superposta.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2012 10:15:50 -0400
Subject: RE:I HOPE YOU GOT MY MAIL.

Dear Friend

I guess this might sound strange to you receiving an email from on unknown
Person. To formally introduce myself, I am Mr. Dennis Lawrence a
Financial consultant here in UK. Unfortunately one of my late customers
Who were a property magnate and building contractor passed away with his?
Wife and only son in an air disaster some years back.

Upon his death nobody has laid a claim on his estate {fund} of
£12.7 (Twelve Million Seven hundred Thousand British Pounds sterling only) unfortunately, his son being the only heir died along with them in the crash, leaving a vacuum to be filled. Presently, the Bank where my late customer deposited the fund has planned to confiscate this
Fund after the expiration of a certain period by invoking abandoned
Property degree of 1936 in accordance with the law of United Kingdom.

It is in light of this, I decided to communicate with you considering that
You shares the same last/surname with my late customer putting you in a
Perfect position to be identify as his relation/business associate,.
Knowing obviously that you are not, in any way, related to him, my
Intention is to be in partnership with you, to enable me present you to
His bank as the heir to his estate

The fund, totaling £12.7 (Twelve Million Seven hundred Thousand British Pounds Starlings only) will be shared in the ratio of 50% for you, 40% for me while 10% set aside to defray all cost arising in the Execution of this transaction.

I hereby assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free and will be
Conducted in a legitimate manner without any financial misconduct. I
Should respect your trust on me as the financial adviser to the late
Client.

Kindly contact me immediately by furnishing me with your complete Information

1) Your full names
2) Age,
3) Direct phone number
4) Mobile phone number
5) Nature of job/position,
6) Marital status
7) Address
On receipt of your response, I will send you the documents pertaining to
The deposit of the fund and engage the service of an attorney to carry out
The legal documentation that will compel the bank to recognize you as the
Next of kin and release the fund to you.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Dennis Lawrence.

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