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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: "Paul Hendricks" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paulhendricks@mail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2015 19:31:23 -0700
Subject: Re: Info (31/07/2015) ....

Hello Dear
 
It is important to note the high confidentiality of this message that I am sending to you; however I do apologise if it is way out of your comfort zone.
 
I have this deceased client of mine who on March 2014 deposited the sum of $9,500,000.00 with our security company for a fix asset investment for the period of 12 calendar months. Our security firm is an especially private firm that accepts deposits from high net worth individuals and blue chip corporations. Unfortunately this client has passed on due to cardiac arrest according to my findings when I tried to reach him on several occasion to update him on the status of his investment.
 
On hearing about his death through other of his business associate who is unaware of his investment with our company, I then decided to go through his files to see if I could trace anyone one close to him but to my greatest surprise I found out that he never filled out spaces provided for next of kin in all the documentations that he signed during the fixed asset investment with our security firm. I have also found out that he died intestate which means the fixed asset investment he lodged with us is now floating with no claimant attached to it.
 
However the policy of the company provides an opportunity of any of the deceased relative(s) to come forward with a claim request on the asset on conditions that certain documents shall be provided to the company for scrutiny before asset could be release to the deceased relative(s).
 
As the consultant who set up the fixed asset investment for this deceased client, I have made frantic efforts in the past months to locate any of his relatives but to no avail leaving me only with the option of sending you this message.
 
What I am proposing is to present you as his next of kin to our company in order to claim the funds, and I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds after I have presented and introduced you to the company as his relative or associate. I will secure all relevant court documents as the company policy demands which will place you as the closest surviving relation or associate to the deceased so that the funds will be release to you for our mutual benefits.  It is my intention that we both benefit from this fortune.
 
Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to these funds. All processes leading to the release of funds to you will be done legitimately hence my assurance that this is a risk free venture for us.
 
Please note I am a family man; I have a wife and children. I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the consequences if you should decide to turn my proposal down, 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. Please get back to me as soon as possible if you are interested.
 
Regards,
 
Paul Hendricks

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