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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: "MRS. PRISCILLA ADJEI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <legalypris@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:11:21 +0100
Subject: WE HAVE LESS THAN 31 DAYS TO DO THIS.

Hello my dear,            
 
I know this is certainly an unconventional approach to start up any kind of relationship, however due to limited time at my disposal and your surname similarity with that of my deceased client, I am forced to make this contact to you through this means. Please, permit me to make this little introduction. I am Barrister Mrs. Priscilla Adjei. I am a lawyer and financial adviser by profession. I am writing to seek your consent to let me present you as a relative to my deceased client Mr. Khan who drowned with his wife and only daughter in a speed boat accident at Labadi Beach. Mr. Khan was a successful contractor in oil and gas industry until his death.
 
About six years ago, my client, Mr. Khan made a five years fixed deposit in a local bank here. Upon the maturity of the fixed deposit last year, the bank manager contacted me to provide any close relative of Mr. Khan to receive his money since his wife who happend to be his next of kin also died along with him in the accident. I have made several attempts since last year to locate any relative of my deceased client without success. Now the bank has issued me a 31 days ultimatum to present any relative of my late client to receive his money. The bank has threatened to declare Mr. Khan’s fund as bank’s profit if I fail to present any ofhis relative after 31days.
 
Based on this 31day ultimatum and the fact that you have the same surname as my late client, I seek to present you to the bank as a relative of Mr. Khan so that the proceeds of his fixed deposit account with accrued interest valued at $15,500,000(Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand, United States Dollars Only) can be paid to you. Both of us will share this money between us at the end of the transaction.
 
I have vital legal documents that would help us this claim this money. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of law. I will also like to invest my share of the deal in your country. I will appreciate your urgent response indicating your interest as well as providing me with your details to enable me notify the bank that I have found a relative of my deceased client. I will give you more details including my identifications once am assured of your sincerity and full cooperation. I await your quick response.
 
Thanks,
Barrister Mrs. Priscilla Adjei.
 

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