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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: "Mathew James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjames10100@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2019 06:46:54 -0700
Subject: ANTISPATING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE

My name is Mathew  James, an attorney and auditor in a
foreign domestic bank. I got your contact in my search for the
next of kin to a deceased customer of our bank, a foreign investor and
national of your country who died of cardiac arrest 5 years ago, left
behind a deposit account worth (US$25 million) with the bank.
Unfortunately, he had no will on the account leaving the account with
an open Next of Kin beneficiary position.
 
The law stipulates that when there has been no activity in any account
or a claim to the account within a specified long  period of time, the law requires
the bank to turn the account over to the unclaimed property office where the
money will be turned over to the government as unclaimed.
 
Instead of letting the fund to be confiscated, I intend to present you
as a Next of Kin to the deceased, so that the funds will be paid to you
and we share's it afterward.
Presently, I'm legally equipped with information's and documents on this
account, which will back up any claim made in your name as a Next of
Kin to the deceased since you bear same last name.
the claim resolution process takes (21) working days to get approved by the bank
and shall be handled under legal rules of inheritance Act.
There will be a mutual understanding between me and you while
processing this funds. I propose you take 40% of the funds upon
completion while I and my colleague who works inside the bank keeps
60% if this proposition is acceptable to you please respond back to me
urgently via email or Fax and I will send you more details regarding
the process.
 
I look forward to your urgent response.
 
Sincerely,
Mathew James, London UK

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