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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: "Thomas Philip" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomasphiliplaw@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2014 02:55:57 +0800
Subject: Urgent Request

FROM THE DESK OF
THOMAS PHILIP LAW CHAMBERS
LEGAL SOLICITORS/PRIVATE
56 JALAN RAJA CHULAN
KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA
 
Attention Please,
 
My name is Barrister. Thomas Philip a personal Attorney to our late client. TAN SRI LIM GOH TONG, who built a hill top casino in Malaysia (Genting Highland), TAN SRI LIM GOH TONG, a well known Philanthropist. Before he died, he made a WILL in our law firm stating that the sum of US$17,000,000.00 (Seventeen Million U.S. Dollars) should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice outside Malaysia {Overseas.}
 
In accordance 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 particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to produce the beneficiary of this WILL, who happens 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 Will 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 details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit.
 
Please contact me urgently via my direct telephone number +60103409886 or you reply this email immediately stating your details.
 
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.
 
Regards
 
Advocate Thomas Philip
Attorney-at-Law

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