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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: "Michael Todd QC." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michtoddsolicitors1@mail.am>
Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2012 18:31:51 +0100
Subject:

Attn:Yang Ping Xi,

This is a private notice directed to you and should be treated as such.We have a client that we rendered legal service to for over 20 years who recently died in an auto crash.As his attorney for many years,perusing through his files in my Chambers,I realized he neither included a Next of Kin nor a relation in all his documents as his benefactor.I have since made several attempts to locate anyone close to him either friend or relation all but to no avail.

We wrote a formal notice to the Authorities involved and an approval was given to us to source for the beneficiary of the fund of our late client.we came across your name and decided to contact you since you share similarity in name with our late client Mr. Anthony Xi.Kindly note that he left behind in the bank the sum of US$6.5m .

As soon as we get your response we shall educate you properly on how to proceed.

Regards,

Michael Todd QC.

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