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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: "JW" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jwang9800@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 06:16:54 -0700
Subject: Requesting your consideration.

Hello,
I have contacted you after due consideration. I am a solicitor and sole
executor to the estate of my Late Client, and on whose authority I so act.

My Client had interests in solid minerals prior to his death with. I was
recently contacted by the financial institution where my late client had a
deposit of 3.8m to contact his kith and kin and notify them of his dormant
account with the institution. To this end, I have made several
requisitions in the relevant quarters seeking to find any of his possible
extended relatives who would be presented as beneficiaries to his estate
to no avail; thus necessitating my reaching you upon my finding. I have in
the exclusive possession of the firm; some deposit documents which were
issued to my late client by the financial institution and which I am
willing to make available to you to sustain a claim for his estate.

Kindly get back to me as soon as possible so we can proceed.

Sincerely,

JW.

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