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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: "Barr. John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrjohn1@qq.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:29:26 +0200
Subject: READ AND GET BACK TO ME ASAP

Good Day,
This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I am Barr John David Esq., a solicitor at law. The personal a t t o r n e y / s o l e   e x e c u t o r   t o   t h  e   l a t e  M r .   J e f f e r y   C a r r i n g t  o n ,   h e r e i n a f t  e r   r e f e r r e d   to as my client' who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country, he died in a car crash with his immediate family on the 2nd of August 2006. Since the death of my client in Aug, 2006, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimants/beneficiaries to his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail.
Moreover, I have received official letters in the last few weeks suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing international banking laws in which my client deposited the sum of $ 2 0 M .
 
In the light of this present situation I am contacting you so that I may, with your consent present you as the legitimate next of kin/beneficiary to my late client. I have all necessary legal documents in place to make this transaction a grand success.
I need you to provide me with this information:
 
Your Full Names
Your Contact Address
Your Direct Telephone And Cell Phone Numbers For Timely Communication,
Occupation.
 
I have agreed to share the proceed 50% to you and 50% for me to crown our efforts.
Hope to hear from you soonest.
Best regards,
BARRISTER JOHN

Anti-fraud resources: