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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: "Dr. Fredrick Wright" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drfredrick2@aol.fr>
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2015 04:58:06 +0800
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Hello friend,
 
I am Dr. Fredrick Wright Chairman of the Group Audit Committee of Royal Bank of Scotland Plc. London Piccadilly Circus, here in England. I am writing you about a business proposal that will be of immense and mutual benefit to both of us. It might interest you to know that in my department, I discovered a Sum of £18.5 Million (Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds Sterling) in an account that belongs to one of our late foreign customers:  Mr. John Lambert, an American Business Mogul who was a victim of a plane crash in 2012, killing him and his family members. John Lambert 44, of Springfield, and Robin Melton, 46 of Ozark, died when the SR22 2002 Cirrus crashed in a field near the intersection of Farm Road 81 and Missouri 123. Also in the plane at the time of the crash were Lambert’s three children — McKinley 15; Grayson 16 and Joshua 10; we regret the great loss.
 
However, the choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of where you live, particularly due to the sensitivity of the transaction and the confidentiality herein. Now our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim without success over the year. I personally have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives; I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin/Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at £18.5 Million Great British Pounds Sterling can be paid/transferred to you as the named next of kin/beneficiary.
 
This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you. I have secured all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this claim. All i need is to fill in your names to the documents and legalize it in the court here to prove you as the legitimate beneficiary. All I require now is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under the ambits of Law and under a secure legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
 
Please, provide me the following, as we have Seven (7) days to run this through. This is very URGENT PLEASE.
 
1. Full Name:
2. Your Direct Mobile Number:
3. Your Contact Address:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:
7. Nationality:
 
Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you hoping that you will find this proposal interesting. Please on your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest I will furnish you with more information.
 
Endeavor to let me know your decision rather than keep me waiting.
 
Thanking you in anticipation for your favorable and positive reply.
 
Best Regards,
 
 
Dr. Fredrick Wright

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