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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: Hans Meves <wangx@shaks.com.cn>
Reply-To: <hansmeves4@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 May 2017 10:00:01 -0700
Subject: Re: Linkedin Projects.

Attention:
Good Day
 
I am Barrister. Hans Meves, Solicitor and Personal Attorney to Mr. Dennis, an indigene of your country who used to work as a Contractor with Diamond Melting & Mineral Exporting company, Pretoria, South Africa.
 
On the 21st of April 2005, my client was involved in a car accident along the Pretoria inter state High way unfortunately, he lost his live in the event of the accident,this has prompted me to contact you, I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives and this has proved unsuccessful. I decided to contact you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the firm where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the security firm where the deceased had a deposit valued at about $70 Million USD (Seventy Million USA Dollars). Consequently, the Security Company issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the deposit declared recovered treasure and diverted to the company recovered funds/reserve.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful to locate the relatives for some years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are the same country that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you for both of us to share the money; 60% to me and 35% to you, 5% to charity. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up the claim. I will provide you with more information on this as we progress.
 
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.
Best regards,
 
Mr Hans Meves

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