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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: Geoffrey Spence <geoffrey.spence@legalcounsel.it>
Reply-To: geoffrey.spence1@kimo.com
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2015 14:19:13 +0100
Subject: Partnership Request

Name: Mr. Geoffrey Spence
Address: Via Venezia, 51, 00184 Rome,
Italy


Hello


You might be surprised to receive this business proposal. I did search
for you on the internet. I am getting in touch with you regarding the
estate of my deceased client. I would respectfully request that you keep
the contents of this email private even if you decide not to assist me
and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of
this mail. I contact you independently and no one is informed of this
communication.

Mr. Victor Jone was my client for over a decade. He died of cardiac
arrest in 2007. He had a deposit in the sum of US$12.5M with a finance
firm in Europe.

I, as the attorney to late Mr. Victor Jone is the only person that knows
about the investment. I have contacted you so I can present you to the
finance firm as the next of kin to late Victor Jone and the beneficiary
of the US$12.5M.

If you are interested in carrying out this viable transaction with me,
you are to email me your address and telephone number. I will prepare,
sign and email to you a memorandum of understanding (MOU). If you agree
with the terms, you sign and email or fax a copy back to me. The MOU as
an agreement will state the sharing ratio. It will also state that none
of the proceeds will be used for any illegal activity.

After we both sign the MOU, I will prepare Late Victor Jone Will in your
name which I will then use to obtain the letter of administration from
the probate office thereby making you the next of kin to late Victor
Jone and the bonafide beneficiary of the funds.

I will forward to the Finance Company on your behalf, the Will, the
letter of administration and an application for the approval for the
transfer of the funds to your account.

The Finance company will then contact you to let you know the funds have
been approved for transfer into your account. When the funds are
transferred into your nominated account, I will then travel to meet with
you in your country to share the proceeds.

You do not have to have known Victor Jone in person because people Will
their estates to charity, pets, strangers.. I know this might be a bit
heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all your troubles I
propose that we split the money in half. In the banking circle this
happens every time. The other option is that the money will revert back
to the state.


Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold
the KEY to these funds, and we see so much cash and funds being
re-assigned daily.

Please, note I am a family man; I have a wife and two children. I send
you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the consequences, but
I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that
success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. Do not
betray my confidence, If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly
on this. Do not hesitate to get back to me immediately via my private
email: geoffrey.spence1@kimo.com

Thank you and God bless.


Yours faithfully,

Geoffrey Spence.



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