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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: "Ms. Sharon R. Bright" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <private.sharonuk@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2018 14:34:24 -0700
Subject: YOUR INHERITTANCE FUND.

Hello Dear.
 
I am Ms Sharon R. Bright, working with NatWest bank Plc London. I am personally contacting you because of the below information. I am an
account officer to one of our customers, Mr. George  who bears the same last name with you. He is a national of your Country who worked with Oil Company in London.
 
On the 2nd of August 2007, Mr. George and his wife with their three children were involved in a car accident along Limehouse link
road, London. All passengers of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
Since then I started searching for the relations of late Mr. George. I have made several inquiries to US Embassy to locate any of my client's
extended relatives and 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, hence
I contacted you.
I am contacting you to assist in claiming the money left behind by our late customer before it got confiscated or declared unserviceable
by our bank though the fund has been deposited in our corresponding bank over there in US.
 
Particularly, he maintains the deposit valued at 15 million pounds with our bank. The board of directors has issued me the LAST notice as
the deceased's account officer to provide the next-of-kin or have the fund confiscated and return back to their treasury within the next one month.
Also it will interest you to know the deposited fund attracted an interest of 1 million pounds make the   total amount of 16,000,000
(Sixteen Million Great British Pounds Sterling) before it was taken to our corresponding bank in Texas. You will get dollar equivalent of the 16 million pounds which is $22,906,000.
 
I will personally be happy if you can respond to this immediately so that you can receive these fund from the bank in Texas this second quarter
payment of the Year.
I have some of the important documents that can be used to back up the claim like deposit certificate which Mr. George  kept with me as his
account manager.
 
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I will get you a
better attorney who will handle the legal aspect of the transaction.
 
It is legit and that is why an attorney should be involved.
Please get in touch with me immediately you acknowledge the good receipt of this message.
 
I am anticipating your reply once you receive this mail.
 
Yours Sincerely,
Miss Sharon R. Bright.
Working with NatWest Bank Plc.

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