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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: BELLELLI FRANCESCO <bellellifrancesco2000@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 May 2015 21:58:59 +0200
Subject: =?UTF-8?B?TEFTVCBOT1RJQ0XigI8=?=

THIS IS OUR LAST NOTICE TO YOU

We wish to notify you once again that your name was listed as a beneficiary
to the two million,five hundred thousand dollars only left behind in the
bank account of our late client. (The name now withheld since this is our
second letter to you).
We are solicitors that provides complete legal services to our private and
corporate clients. We contacted you because, you bear the same name with
our late client and therefore want to present you as the beneficiary to the
inheritance, since there is no written will,no next of kin and no relation
to inherit the money. If the money is left with the bank unclaimed, it will
be lost forever. In your acceptance of this deal; we request that you
kindly forward to us your address and telephone number, to enable us
process this fund for onward transfer to your account in your country, I
will now come over to meet with you so that we share it equally.
Yours faithfully,
Bellelli Francesco Esq

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