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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: "Prince Gary Taylor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pgtaylor111@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 14:38:14 +0100
Subject: ASSISTANCE

Hello,
I got your contact in course of my inquiry to locate relations of my Deceased Client who
 
died in a car crash. On the 7th of August 2010 it was reported to us that my Client, his
 
wife and their only daughter were involved in a car crash. The reason for this is to
 
inherit a Contract Payment Deposited in an account to the tune of $11.450 million which
 
the Deceased left in a Bank. This request emerged when the Bank/Finance institution  
 
contacted me for the attention of my Deceased Client (perhaps for one reason or the other
 
they have tried to contact him and was unsuccessful) I announced his death and protocols
 
observed. I was mandated (as the deceased's attorney) to provide the Next of Kin to
 
inherit the Deposits or they will freeze it as" Unclaimed Deposit" Unfortunately, and
 
unknown to the Bank, the Next of Kin was amongst the dead in the car crash.
But rather leaving the Deposits/Account frozen hence I seek your help to claim the fund
 
into your Account as you share same names with the Deceased and I have the required
 
Information to execute the transaction under legal process.
Upon the conclusion of this transaction, I will come to your country, for the
 
disbursement of this fund, which 40% of the total amount will be your compensation, while
 
60% will be my share for the investment I will need your help to establish in your
 
country.
Yours Faithfully,
P.G Taylor
Advocate/Legal Practitioner

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