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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: "ESQ. CHARLES" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 4 May 2016 19:05:59 -0000
Subject: INHERIT THIS FUNDS $22.5

Dear Friend,

This letter is not intended to cause you any embarrassment in whatever form, Rather it is intended to
contact your esteemed self. Firstly, I must solicit your confidentiality. I know that a proposal of this magnitude will make
anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that it is made in good faith and will be of mutual
benefit. I am Charles Dodo, The Personal attorney to Late Benson, a consultant with an oil company here in
Nigeria. On the 23rd August 2010, my client and his wife were involved in an auto crash accident along Port
Harcourt- Wari Road, in River state. Unfortunately they lost their lives in the event of the accident,
since then I have made several contacts as to locate any of his extended relatives, but all proved abortive.
Hence I decided to contact you.

I am contacting you to assist in retrieving the money valued at US$22.5 million dollars that was left behind
by my Late client with the Spring Bank of Nigeria plc, before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable
by the bank. Consequently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives for over 3 years now, I hereby seek your consent to act as the next of kin to the deceased,
the proceeds of this account valued at (US$22.5 million dollars) will be paid to you and then you and
i can share the money. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this project.
Should you be interested please, furnish me with your most direct telephone and cell phone numbers for oral
conversation after which I will provide you with more details of this transaction and how to proceed.

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Charles Dodo
Email: charlesdodo@y7mail.com

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