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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: Bassie Duke <bassie_duke@outlook.com >
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2015 00:31:34 +0100
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary

Ref: 8U771 -1112-2015 Before I proceed, I must first apologize for this unsolicited letter to you. I am aware that this is certainly not a conventional way of approach to establish a relationship of trust, but you will realize the need for my action. My name is Bassie Duke of Bassie Duke & Associates, Johannesburg, South Africa. Actually, I got your contact information from your country data directory (South Africa) on my recent visit to your country, while searching for a last name similar to my late client a South African. She died along with her son at Tripoli airport on the 12th day of May 2010. Before her death, she deposited the sum of £12.5M with a bank in London, England. The bank has mandated me to present any family heir/inheritor for claim before the fund gets confiscated as an unclaimed fund. So I decided to search for any of my late client's relative which has been very difficult for me, as she did not declare any other person, address, partner or relatives in the official paper works of her deposit except her late son. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a South African to stand as the next of kin to late Dr. Rita, since you share the same last name. With my position as her lawyer, I will now place your name as the next of kin to my late client. I will prepare every relevant document that will assist your claims, and facilitate the release of the fund. Note that this transaction is risk free. There is no atom of risk in connection to this business as I have worked out all modalities to complete the transaction successfully. Once the money is released to you, we shall share in the ratio of 50% for me, 50% for you as your benefit. Reply via my private Email: Please be kind to get back to me if you are not interested so that I can further my search for another partner. Best Regards Bassie Duke Esq Bassie Duke & Associates, Johannesburg, South Africa. Tel: +2778 043 8018. Fax +278651 26012 bassie_duke@outlook.com

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