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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: Christ Howells <chrishowells435@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2014 14:25:28 +0100
Subject: Hello and Good day

Hello and Good day

I am Mr Chris Howells, a legal practitioner and the personal Lawyer to late
Mr.Emmanuel a nationality of your country who died by heart attack over Six
(6) years ago here in my country Togo. He was a contractor worked with many
construction companies here in Togo for many years, he supplied 6,300 tons
of bagged cement to the government (ministry of works Togo) for
constructions of roads, and the ministry of works Togo has paid his
contract balance fund (US$8,550,000.00) into his account with Eco bank here
in Togo.

Recently I was informed by the Honorable minister of works Togo that the
contract balance fund has been paid and I have confirmed the payment from
the bank director who advised me to look for late Mr.Emmanuel relatives to
receive the fund. After my several attempts to locate any of his relatives
without success, I decided to utilize this life time opportunity by
contacting you to assist me stand as his relative and claim the contract
balance fund and both of us will share the fund 50%/50%.

Please reply me through my private email (chrishowells435@yahoo.com.ph )
for more details on this transaction.

Thank you,
Barrister Mr. Chris Howells.

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