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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: "Charles Andrews" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <charlesandrews1958@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 08:07:18 -0700
Subject: Urgent Response..

Hello,

My name is Mr. Charles Andrews, Special Adviser, Consultant and Solicitor at Andrews & Kurth LLP law firm United Kingdom.

Please your attention to this matter will be appreciated. The deceased customer by Name Mr. Michael who lived at 17 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, the W8 400, died along with his wife and only son in a car accident in 2009, he left his properties, including his house in Yorkshire. He was into mining, oil and gas industry, he was a successful businessman before he died, late Mr. Michael is my client who i confirm is related to you because he has the same surname with you and also from your country, So i want you to get back to me as soon as you receive this mail to enable me forward to you all the information you need to know about my late client so that you will understand more better before we proceed.

I await your urgent response.

Sincerely.
Mr. Charles Andrews

(Special Adviser)
Kurt Andrews
Too Level 16, City
Tower 40 Basinghall
Street London EC2V5DE,
England

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