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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: "Michael Ficca" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <f84093043@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2018 03:07:21 -0700
Subject: Re:Dear Beneficiary

MA LAW{SOLICITORS}LLP
72-74 Edgware Rd,London
W2 2EG,United Kingdom
Email:michaelficca@yahoo.com
 
BUSINESS PROPOSAL
 
Dear Sir/Madam
 
My name is Michael Ficca; I am a partner at MA Law (Solicitors) LLP a
London based Law Firm.
 
Firstly, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is
by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential. Though I know
that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive
and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of
the day. I decided to contact you after series of attempt to locate
members of deceased family.
 
There is an unclaimed “permanent life insurance policy” insured for
Ten Million Nine Hundred & Fifty Thousand Seven Hundred &
Seventy-Seven Dollars (US$ 10,950,777.00) with a top Life Insurance
Company in London. The policy holder was one of our clients, Late Eng.
Arthur <mf: Lastname>, who worked with Energy Company in London. He
died in an accident in London, Nine years ago. Since his death no one
has come forward for the claim and all our efforts to locate his
relatives have proved unsuccessful. The insurance company code
stipulates that “insured permanent policies" not claimed must be
turned over to the abandoned property division of the state after
seven years.
 
Therefore, I ask for your consent to be in partnership with me for the
claim of this policy benefit, in view of the fact that you share the
same last name and nationality with the deceased. If you permit me to
add your name to the policy, all proceeds will be processed on your
behalf. I wish to point out that I want 10% of this money to be shared
among charity organizations while the remaining 90% will be shared
between us.
 
This is 100% risk free; I do have all necessary documentation to
expedite the process in a highly professional and confidential manner.
I will provide all the relevant documents to substantiate your claim
as the beneficiary. This claim requires a high level of
confidentiality and it may take up to thirty (30) business days, from
the date of receipt of your consent.
 
Please contact me either via: (Email:michaelficca@yahoo.com)
 
Your earliest response to this matter would be highly appreciated
Michael Ficca, B.A. (Distinction), J.D. Attorney

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