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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: "Mr.Edward Cliff" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardcliff1@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 02:31:28 -0800
Subject: Dearest friend and partner in progress

Dearest friend and partner in progress,
 
How are you today, I presume fine. I deemed it fit to seize this opportunity thanking you for responding to this proposition concerning my late client funds deposited with a financial institution and at the same time re-assuring you that this transaction of its nature is 100% risk and hitch-free, the only thing I need from you is trust and maximum co-operation for us to conclude this transaction, note that whatever expenses incurred will be deducted upon the receipt and confirmation of the consignment (funds).
 
The project has got to do with some amount my late client Mrs. Leona Helmsley deposited with Private Bank/Security Service Company here in England in 1998, when she Isolated herself from all her American friends and families and came over to London to mourn the death of her husband Mr.Henry Helmsley who died a year earlier (1997). The Operations Manager of the institution where her grant (funds) was deposited called me a few days ago and intimated me about the intention of her board of directors to revert my late client's funds to the coffers of the British Government as unclaimed funds, it is therefore on this premise that I am contacting you to assist me receive the funds so that it is not confiscated by the British Government. Due to the essence of time here, I had no choice, but to first contact you through email, I am indeed extremely sorry if I have delved into your privacy without a formal relationship with you in the past.
 
Be it as it may, I want to confirm your full details which is as follows: FULL NAMES, ADDRESS and MOBILE NUMBERS so as to enable me start the processing of all the legal documents that will empower you as the next of kin regardless your relationship with the deceased hence; I do not want you to entertain any fear in this regard. Note that been an attorney does not in any way affect my business acumen, besides I don't belong to that school of thought which believe that the sweat and hard earned resources of any individual should be handed over to any Government as "unclaimed property", I therefore want you to accept the trusteeship that is about to be reposed on you at your own discretion. Once the funds have been claimed by you which I will personally handle the legal structure of the proceedings for a hitch free claim, I will help you to register at least one Charity Organization in your country upon receipt of the funds by you which we will front as the recipient of the funds/grants and afterwards we share
 
In review of the facts, I want you to know that we are not doing anything illegal or criminal as the case may be and I would like you to understand clearly that legally you have nothing to worry as regards to the inheritance claims, this is a real transaction and in other to stick this at the back of your mind that as a Lawyer with twenty-five years experience, I am confident to say here that the proposed transaction is legal and 100% free from any kind of risk. Find below the web-page of my client for record purposes:
 
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20358637/
 
By virtue of my position as an Attorney to the deceased, I have the locus stand in law to carry out any business / dealings on his behalf therefore; I want you to feel free to call me on my direct line for a brief discussion as this is a very concise explanation of the entire process and requirements of this transaction. The duration for the whole process is about 6-7 days from the day the requisite document are submitted to the institution. I hope to hear from you soon. Note that I will be taking care of the processing of all the paper works which will empower you as the rightful owner / next of kin to the deceased (LEONA HELMSLEY) hence; I beg for your HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY and TRUST as you will be recognized as the TRUSTEE to the Late LEONA HELMSLEY after the documentation.
 
 
 
Yours sincerely
Mr.Edward Cliff
Emai:edwardcliff1@yahoo.co.jp
 
 

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