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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: "Mr. Serrano Ostariz" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ostarizs@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2016 18:55:31 -0500
Subject: Thank you in advance for your kind attention to this matter

Serrano Ostariz (...Legal Representative...)
Tel/Fax: 011 (34) 631 716 797
 
 
I require your assistance in connection with relative of my late client/inheritance. I hereby request your assistance and delegate the necessary authority to you on behalf of my late client to carry out this claim. Who was a business magnate that lived in Spain for over a decade prior to his death. I got your contact information through your country archive while searching for any possible relative or a last name similar to my late clients.Our work is subject to the attorney-client privilege and protection.We intent that all of the activities that you undertake pursuant to this assignment will also be subject to all privilege and protection applicable to us as attorneys.
 
 
I'll be happy to explain further, I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you. I recognize this not been a predictable way of approach to foster a relationship of trust, but because of the circumstances and the urgency surrounding this claim. I decided to reach you via this media to join me to put claims on this fund before it is seized or confiscated by the authorities. Prior to my late client death; he made a mutual investment deposit worth the sum of $7,400,000.00 (SEVEN MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) with a finance safe keeping investment company here in Spain and declared it as a family treasure. As the Attorney/Adviser present during registry of the deposit by my late client and family, the finance safe company has officially notified and instructed me to present heir/heiress to make Claims, so that he/she can be paid the outstanding deposit, else the fund will be confiscated and taken to the Bureau of government treasury as unclaimed.
 
 
I was given an ultimatum to look for any possible relative to come for the claim. After extensive research for any possible relative which proved abortive, I decided to contact you; my suggestion to you is that I will like to present you as the heir/heiress to the finance safe keeping investment company. I know you may not be anyway related to my late client but having a common surname with him it is absolutely necessary for me to make it take the resemblance of an actual next of kin; this is where I need your assistance, although I know that a transaction of this magnitude might make anyone apprehensive but I would like to assure you that I am proposing this project to you with the best of my intention as the Attorney/Adviser present during registry of the deposit of my late client with to the finance safe company.
 
 
The modalities I have in place, I can guarantee that if you follow my instructions (The rule of laws) and capitalizing of some judicial loop holes the deposit will be released to us. Mind you that this transaction is 100% risk free; there is no atom of risk connected to this business as I have worked out all perfect modalities to complete the operation effectively. All I require from you is your honest co-operation; I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Upon successful conclusion of this project, once the deposit is been release to you, we shall disbursed the content in the ratio of 50% for you, 50% for me respectively as our benefit ($ 3.7 Million each).
 
 
Kindly confirm your understanding of this delegation by signing it and returning it to me via my office email address, Email: ostarizs@gmail.com as above you can equally send a fax with your Telephone /fax number for oral clarification.
 
 
Call at direct telephone number for effective communication on how to proceed next.
Contact telephone number : + 34 631 716 797
 
 
We appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Your Printed Name: ----------------------
Telephone Number: -----------------------
 
 
Kindest Regards,
Mr. Serrano Ostariz
Tel : + (34) 631 716 797
Tel : 011 (34) 631 716 797
 
 
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