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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: MR GARRET ADAMS <richard@sampo.ru>
Reply-To: <adamsgarret@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2015 09:12:31 +0200
Subject: Assistance is Needed



--
Dear Friend,

I know you were not expecting this email and its contents may reach you
as
a surprise, but I ask that you take the time to carefully read and
understand it.

I work with a global bank (C.B) in Europe UK. IN my department, i
discovered an abandoned sum of 5M (Five Million Pounds) Only, in an
account
that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with his
entire
family in a plane crash that took place in Kenya, East Africa, the bank
now
expects a next of kin as beneficiary. Valuable efforts are being made
by
the Bank to get in touch with any of the Bromley's remaining family or
relatives but all to no success. The Late Dr. George Bromley is a known
Philanthropist in Africa.

We had this customer who invested a huge sum with us before meeting his
demise in a plane crash accident while on vacation.

The said investment has since matured but no one has come forward to
claim
it and it would eventually be lost forever if no one formally puts up a
claim for it.

I have decided to present you as the lawful claimant and this is
because
you and our client are from the same and also have the same write to
claim
it. This way you and I can equally benefit from it. You have my word
that
the entire process would be done under legitimate arrangements and we
will
not offend the laws of either your country or mine.

If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly indicate your full names,
your private telephone, fax numbers and location where the money will
be
remitted. I will instruct you on the next step to take.

Reply to my private email: adamsgarret@outlook.com and mine as well
shall
be sent to you for you to know whom you are dealing with; I look
forward to
hearing from you and my gratitude for your patience.

Best regards,
Garret Adams

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