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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: Mark Robert <markrobert491@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mark Robert <robdmark4@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 14:01:22 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT RESPONSE..


Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day to you. Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a certified post-mail. Well my name is Mr.Mark Robert, a private lawyer based here in Ghana. I did a lot of web search before choosing your contact from your country's website and business online register. It is with trust and sincerity that I approach you for assistance in a business project

I seek your concept to present you as the executor/next of kin to my deceased client who made a deposit of seventeen million eight hundred and fifty thousand United State Dollars only (US$17,850,000.00) with a Finance House here few years back since you are at an advantage, bearing the same last name so that the proceeds of the deposit funds valued at seventeen million eight hundred and fifty thousand United State Dollars can be paid to you and we shall both share the funds amicably on agreed percentage and as well donate to charitable organizations.

I have all the necessary legal documents that will be used to back up any claim we will make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this project through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement, so if you are interested and sincere we can proceed further with this transaction which is hundred percent risk free, please do let me know immediately so that I can give you comprehensive details on how we proceed.

Please get back to me through my private email so that I can give you more details.

Thanks & best
Yours Truly
Mark Robert.


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