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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: "Mr. X" <PATY_NICE1@HOTMAIL.COM>
Reply-To: macymsleung@netvigator.com
Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2018 15:09:02 -0700
Subject: Funds of my deceased client.


Hello,
I am contacting you regarding an unclaimed inheritance, and I will tell yo=
u more about it but before then let me introduce myself. My name is Mark St=
uart and citizen of South Africa. I have a client who was based in South =
Africa but now late. Since my client died I have made frantic effort to se=
arch for a possible beneficiary since the immediate family members I knew w=
ith him are no more. =

=

The inheritance we are talking about is worth $17.3M (Seventeen Million Thr=
ee hundred Thousand US Dollar) Funds of my deceased client deposited in a p=
rime bank here in South Africa. He died without finalizing his will and sin=
ce you share same last name with my late client and as no WILL or Next of k=
in document was ever filed with the bank formally; I am seeking your consen=
t to present you urgently to become the beneficiary of my late client to re=
ceive this funds. =

=

Please note that this person might not be your known relative, but I want t=
o nominate you because you share same last name with my late client. You sh=
ould be aware that there is no cause for worry because the process of prese=
nting you as the beneficiary of my deceased client will be done in accordan=
ce with the Inheritance Laws of South Africa which will involve obtaining t=
he Court probate validation papers. =

=

I hope we can work together as partners to make this transaction come to fr=
uition. This is a golden opportunity which must be exploited otherwise post=
erity will ask us questions. We have $17.3M (Seventeen Million Three hundre=
d Thousand US Dollar) to claim if we decide to cooperate and work together.=
=

=

So all I want is for you to stand as the beneficiary of my late client; the=
refore, I am proposing we share this $17.3M between you and my firm in the =
ratio; 45% for you and 45% for us and the balance 10% shared among various =
charity organization around the world as my client also wanted to do. =

=

An opportunity like this is very rare so let us take advantage of it. Plea=
se note that, I would not accept the involvement of any other lawyer seein=
g the peculiarity of the matter. I am assuming that this is acceptable to y=
ou, so please confirm that by providing the information requested below. =

=

1, Your full names:
2, your private telephone numbers (office and mobile)
3, your full address:
4. Your age =

=

I have been in search of a possible beneficiary using various search option=
s but now that I found you, I am hoping that we can actually claim these fu=
nds without hitch. =

=

I look forward to your prompt response.
=

Warm Regards, =

Mark Stuart

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