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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: mrhalex45@hotmail.com
Reply-To: mrhalex45@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 08:29:53 -0500
Subject: LAST NOTIFICATION.....!


FROM THE DESK OF: Alex Harrison LAW CHAMBERS LEGAL SOLICITORS/PRIVATE =
56 JALAN RAJA CHULAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA. Attention: Sir/Madam, =
My name is Barrister Alex Harrison; a personal Attorney to our late cli=
ent. TAN SRI LIM GOH TONG, who built a hilltop casino in Malaysia (Genting =
Highland), TAN SRI LIM GOH TONG, a well known Philanthropist. Before he die=
d, he made a Will in our law firm stating that the sum of US$7,500,000.00 (=
Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) only should be donated to=
any Philanthropist of our choice outside Malaysia {Overseas.} In acco=
rdance with our client's instruction, we have made a random draw and your E=
-mail Address were picked as the beneficiary to this Will. I am particularl=
y interested in securing this money from the Bank, because they have issued=
a notice instructing us to produce the beneficiary of this Will, who happe=
ns to be you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury =
as per the law of the country. It is my utmost desire to execute the W=
ill of our late client. You are required to contact us immediately to start=
the process of transferring this money to any of your designated official =
bank accounts. I therefore urge you to contact us immediately for further d=
etails bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit. Please=
contact me urgently for reply to this message immediately stating your det=
ails CONGRATULATIONS! . Regards Advocate Alex Harrison Attorney-=
at-Law =20

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