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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: "Consultants" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rickymickj@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2017 16:00:18 -0500
Subject: Project Proposition

Sir,
 
I am writing to seek for your consent to execute this  project as a partner. My late client  died leaving an unclaimed amount of money  with funds managers .
 
Since his death in the year 2010, I have tried contact any of his extended relatives to come forward to claim his money but all attempts to trace his relatives over the years has been fruitless since he did not declare any of his relative's information in his records with me or the funds managers. Added to this, professional ethics obligates me to act with extreme confidentiality when dealing with clients of this type.
 
However, I don't belong to that school of thought who proposes that the fortunes of unlucky people be given to the government and I am fully convinced that no one would turn up to execute the letter of Administration to claim his funds, hence I decided to contact you to come in as the next of kin to my late client so that the funds can then be transferred to your nominated bank account in your country within 7 working days after we have filed in your claims transfer application .
 
Again, I feel that you may be apprehensive and consider this amount too big for you to defend. It does not matter, as there are documents to back it up. This transaction is risk free and as his lawyer known to the bankers, you can be rest assured that all documents to enable you get this fund as the next of kin will be carefully worked out. Do not be bothered that you are not directly related to my late client as I am in position to affix your name as the next of kin and the funds would be shared equally between us (50/50).
 
I need not emphasize the confidentiality of this issue and I therefore appeal to you not discuss this request with anybody, even if you decline to take full advantage of this great and urgent opportunity in my hands.
 
 
I look forward to your quick reply
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Richard Michael

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