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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: John Robinson <john.robinson@linkserve.com>
Reply-To: john.robinson2016@yandex.com
Date: Sun, 05 Apr 2015 22:57:58 +0000
Subject: Re: Waiting for your reply.



Attention Please,

I am John Robinson, the Head of file Department in Tesco Bank Plc here
in London United Kingdom. I wish to notify you again that you were
listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of Twelve Million Five
Hundred thousand British pounds in the codicil and last testament of
our deceased customer (NAME WITHHELD). I contacted you because you
bear the same surname identity and therefore I can present you as the
beneficiary to the inheritance.

I therefore reckoned that you can receive these funds as you are
qualified by your name identity. I shall provide you with the legal
papers in my possession that you will present to our bank as prove of
your claim for immediate processing of the fund release to you, in
your acceptance to co-operate with me on this deal.
Kindly forward to me your letter of acceptance; your current telephone
and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable me file in an
application of claim with our bank on your behalf.

Yours Faithfully,
Head of file Department,
Mr. John Robinson.
Tel: +44 703 199 9675.

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