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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: Martin Paul <martinpaul1993@gmail.com>
Reply-To: martipaul1994@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:10:14 +0100
Subject: I AM ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE!

--
Dear Friend,

I am Martin Paul, an attorney at law. A deceased client of Mine, by name
Mr. Alexander Parker from your country, who hereinafter shall be referred
to as my client, whose life and that of his entire family were lapsed while
on holidays in a holidays resort in Phuket Thailand on the 26th of December
2004 in the Tsunami natural disaster.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my
client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where
this deposit valued at ($6,000,000.00) Six Million United States dollars
only is lodged.

This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the Account
will be confiscated because there is a government
gazette/mandate/authorizing all banks to freeze or confiscate any account
that has not been serviceable in a long period of time, this is geared
towards capital flight for the economy.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
Next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, so that the proceeds of
this account can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or shared in these
percentages,50% to me and 50% to you.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will
be provided. What I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see
this transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law.If this business proposition offends your moral
values, do accept my apology but if not, then contact me at once to
indicate your interest,by giving me urgently the following below:

1. Your full Name:
2. Your Telephone Number:
3. Your Contact Address:

4. Your Age and Occupation:

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,
Solicitor Martin Paul

Anti-fraud resources: