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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: "HOWARD ASSOCIATES SWITZERLAND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <federalresbk@fsmail.net>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 22:45:03 -0700
Subject: RE:THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION

HOWARD ASSOCIATES
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW & NOTARY PUBLIC
VIA MAISTRA 5 7500 ST. MORITZ,
SWITZERLAND
CANTON: GRAUBUNDEN.

Dear Friend,

I write you this message under strict recommendation and in good faith. I am sorry at the perceived confusion you may have receiving by this letter from me since we have not met previously, To be straight, i am William Poker, trained and working as a lawyer for a citizen of your country.I write to contact you as he died here in Switzerland, over a decades ago leaving behind an estate/capital 6,000,000 here .However, he died intestate, no next-of-kin, nobody came forward all these years to lay claim of the inheritance. I have decided to work with you to secure the funds because you are answering the same surname with my client.


Upon hearing from you, I will unfold more details and how to commence in the transaction.

My Alternative email: howardassociates@zambia.co.zm or INFORONLINE@swissmail.com

Best Regards,

Barr,William M. Poker.

Anti-fraud resources: