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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: james Asiegbu <asiegbu002@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 06:33:17 +0000
Subject: TREAT AS VALID


I am James Asiegbu Esq. I write to let you know that there was a Client Whose Family / last name is same with yours died leaving behind an estate / capital (USD$6.5M). I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged. where the deceased had an account valued at about (USD$6.5M) which the bank now unquestionably expects it to be claimed by any available foreign next-of-kin of the Late beneficiary within the next ten official working days.
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at (USD$6.5M) can be paid to you, I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law
Yours
Barrister James Asiegbu

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