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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: "RICHARD WALKER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richardwalker222@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 08:33:36 +1000
Subject: FROM RICHARD WALKER ESQ

Good day to you!

Though I did not consider this medium to be the best to approach you on this issue being that the Internet has been
greatly abused over the recent years and is not secure for information of vital importance. I have decided to take
the chance seeing that no other means could have been faster and more efficient than the E-mail.

My name is Richard Walker, an attorney to Late Billionaire, Mrs. Leona Helmsley, a real estate mogul, who passed on
in 2007. In my quest to find a reliable trustee to manage the assets/estate of my late client valued at
$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million US Dollars), I decided to write this proposal, hoping to reach an
understanding with you and do business together.

Here is a short press report shortly after her passing away: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20358637/ . Whatever that
report painted her to be, she was a great woman doing good especially in the area of charity, in the last five
years of her life.

I shall be willing to supply you with more detailed information concerning this business upon hearing from you. I
have no intention whatsoever of interfering with your private life considering the fact that you have never had any
communication with me in the past. Due to the nature of this business, and by law, I cannot assume the role of a
trustee or appoint any of my relations to become the beneficiary. Consequently, I seek your consent to stand as the
Deceased’s Trustee/Next of Kin and therefore the beneficiary of the funds she left in Reliance Bank here in London
under my care.

Sharing percentage is subject to our mutual agreement.

I will need you to provide me with the following information.

1. Your full names
2. Tel & fax numbers
3. Complete Address
4. Your occupation and your Age.

If you are interested get back to me for full details on this email address: (richardwalker@myfastbox.it).

Sincerely,


Richard Walker Esq.


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