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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: "David Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dsmithlawfirm2@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2016 19:20:24 +0100
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE!

DEAR Friend

Beneficiary Sum Of Us$13.3 Million

I Am David Smith (Esq.), The Personal Attorney To Joseph Lee Who Here In After Shall Be Refer As My Client, A National Of Your Country, Who Was Oil
Consultant/Contractor With Exxon Mobil Oil And Gas Company In Nigeria. Moreover Before His Untimely Death, He Was Actively Involved In Oil {Petroleum} Exploration/Export Business In Nigeria.

On The 5th Of January 2014, My Client Died With Heart Related Complication, Since Then I Have Made Several Enquiries To Your Embassy To Locate Any Of My Client's Extended Relatives, This Has Also Proved Unsuccessful.

After These Several Unsuccessful Attempts, I Decided To Trace His Relatives Over The Internet To Locate Any Member Of His Family But Of No Avail, Hence I Contacted You,I Contacted You To Assist In Repatriating The Money And Property Left Behind By My Client Before They Get Confiscated Or Declared Unserviceable By The Bank Where This Huge Deposit Were Lodged. Particularly, The Bank Where The Deceased Had An Account Balance Of Us$13.3 Million. That Is Why I Am Seeking For Your Consent/Cooperation To Present You As The Next Of Kin/Heir Of The Deceased Since You Are From The Same Country, So That The Proceeds Of This Account Valued At Us$13.3 Million Dollars Can Be Paid To You, As My Clients Next Of Kin/Heir/Beneficiary And Then We Can Share It You And I, 50 Percent To Me And 45 Percent To You, While 5 Percent Shall Be For Expenses Or Tax As Your Government May Require. I Have All Necessary Legal Documents That Can Be Used To Back Up Any Claim We May Make. All I Require Is You
r Honest Co-Operation To Enable U

If You Are Really Interested In This Offer Email Me Back Via This Email Address
Only: ( dsmithlawfirm2@yahoo.com )

This Transaction Shall Commence Immediately There Is Interest From You.
Absolutely This Offer Is Risk Free, But You Need To Maintain Absolute
Confidentiality During And After The Successful Prosecution Of This Business

I Await Your Positive Response.

Sincerely Yours,
David Smith
Attorney At Law
Smith & Associates Law Firm
Plot 14 Alagbon close Ikoyi Lagos - Nigeria.
Email :( dsmithlawfirm2@yahoo.com )

Anti-fraud resources: