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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: "Peter Baines" <pppb66@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: pppb60@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:42:54 +0200
Subject: Write back please.



Hello,

My name is Peter Baines. I am the personal lawyer to Mr. Neal Walker,
An American businessman who lost his life in a plane crash on the 31st
of Oct 1999.He deposited $30 Million USD with a bank here in UK which
nobody has put in claim for. All attempts to locate any of his
relative all these while have been unsuccessful. I and an insider with
the bank have decided to look for a reliable person who is ready and
willing to help claim this fund, hence this email.

The plan now is for you to stand in as his relation to get this funds
released to you because the bank has just given a deadline to provide
one, or the money will be declared dormant in accordance with the
bank's policy. Your help will be appreciated with 30% of the total
sum. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this
email if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered you.
Write me back however if you're ready to work with us on this project.

Best Regards,
Peter Baines.

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