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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: micheal prosser <micheal.prosser@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: micheal prosser <micheal.prosser@yandex.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2015 15:35:22 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear friend, please let's discuss this information


 Dear Friend,

Compliment of the season.


I am sorry for using this medium to write to you at the same time I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and current development. Please bear with me.
I am Mr Micheal.Prosser, a banker with HSBC bank London and account officer to a national of your country, who used to own an oil servicing company in London Therein referred to as my client. On the 21st of August, 2014.my client his wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I had made several inquiries through your Embassy to locate any of my clients extended relative but this exercise has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives through Your Country's Chamber of Commerce, to locate any member of his family not much progress was recorded My late client was an influential wealthy businessman, an oil magnet here in London and he left behind a deposit of $25.7 Million in his domiciliary bank here in London.
 
After the death of my client, the bank contacted me, as his account officer to provide his next of kin who should inherit his fortune. The board of directors of this bank adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within 28 working days or forfeit the money to the bank as Government treasury. The bankers had planned to invoke the abandoned fund act of 1996 to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given to me Despairing at the point of exhaustiveness, fortunately, I came across your name, to my utmost amazement, I discovered that you bear the same similar name with my late client and coincidentally, you are nationals of the same country. I am Convinced that you may be linked with my late client or that you might provide clue to my search, I therefore, decided to contact with these facts before me because of the similarities.

By virtue of my closeness to the deceased and his immediate family, I am very much aware of my client financial standing and the bank account he operates. I have reasoned very professionally and I feel it's legally proper as I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since you are at an advantage, so that the proceeds of this Bank Account valued at US$25.7 Million Dollars can be paid to you. We shall both share the funds. 55% to me and 45% to you, I shall assemble all the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up our claim.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.
Please get in touch with me via my e-mail address to enable us discuss further.
You may also send your phone number so that I can call you.
I look forward to your urgent response.

Best regards,
Mr Micheal.Prosser.

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