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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: "WRIGHT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wrightiaian@yahoo.es>
Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 18:33:34 +0100
Subject: IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU REPLY ASAP.THANK YOU.

Barrister Iain Wright
MORGAN,LEWIS LAW FIRM UK.
Condor House
5-10 St. Paul's Churchyard
London, EC4M 8AL
My name is Barrister Iain Wright legal Associate with the Morgan Lewis Law Firm United Kingdom Business and Finance.I want to bring you into a business deal that requires your utmost confidentiality.One of my clients Mrs Grace Anderson just passed on.She died of cancer complications a few months ago.Mrs Grace Anderson had no child and the husband died some years ago.Actually,i have being her family lawyer for over a decade now.The truth is this,Mrs Grace confided in me over her inheritance fund deposited with Natwest Bank London  valued $8,900,000.00 which she and her late husband saved before her sudden demise.She intimated me about her intentions to give the funds to charity.Surprisingly,she sent me a letter of authorization,instructing me to give her wealth to charity in case she dies.It was surprising because i did not take her serious.She also confided in me not to allow her surviving relatives know about this because of their questionable characters.She does not find th
 
The reason why i have contacted you is to crave your indulgence in this project.I want you to come in as Mrs Grace Anderson next of kin and claim this funds so that it can be used for charity in your country.You will be getting 25% of the funds and you will help me invest the 75% of the funds into profitable investments that the profits will be continuously channeled to charity.I will come over to your country immediately the funds are transferred so that we can sit down and discuss on how to invest the funds.All legal documents to back up this transfer as my client's next-of-kin will be provided and documented by me.I will finance the procurement and certification of all the necessary legal documents that will transfer ownership of the funds to you.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
 
I have being in contact with the management of the bank over this issue and they are willing to work with me.Mrs Grace has already issued a copy of the letter of authorization to the bank and the letter of purpose dully signed by the probate.
 
I want you to know that this arrangement will be executed under a legitimate process and you will not be found wanting with the law.Please if you are interested,furnish me with the outlined details so that i will proceed with the processing of the necessary legal documentation in your name as the next of kin before i will be able to write an application to the Financial Firm for approvals.
1.Your Full Names:.......................................
2.Your Address:.....................................................
3.Your Direct telephone number:............................
4.Copy of Your valid Id.
Please i want you to treat this with utmost good faith and confidentiality.The primary objective is to get these funds to the poor and expansion of the word of god.
Thank You.
Barrister Iain

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