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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: "Dr. Larry Clark" <nationdepartment@gmail.com>
Reply-To: larryclark@indamail.hu
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2021 09:38:31 +0100
Subject: COVID-19 Inheritance

--

Mr.Pannell Louis, a national of your country, who was a civil
contractor with Shell Petroleum Development Company in London-UK. On
the 2nd day of March, 2020; Mr. Pannell tested positive for the
"Corona Virus" in the Bristol London. He was immediately taken to an
isolation center by the Europeian center for Disease Control (ECDC).
However, he passed away after a painful battle with the dreaded virus
on the 29th day of April, 2020. "May his soul rest
in Peace!" Since then, I have made several inquiries to your embassy,
through my attorney, to locate any of my Late employer's extended
relatives but
to no avail. After these unsuccessful attempts, I decided to search
for anyone with a similar surname over the Internet in a final bid to
locate any member of his family. This was how I found you and decided
to contact you!

I am hereby proposing that you assist in claiming and repatriating the
money and property left behind by my client in London-UK before the
government of that country may take over those assets or declare them
dormant. From his local lawyer's body language, I fear that he might
connive with the bank (where my Late employer lodged funds which he
was using to finance his numerous projects with the petroleum
company), to divert and attempt to claim these funds especially as he
knows so much about the Late Mr. Pannell! However, I am bent on
thwarting any such move. I strongly guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the laws.
Yours faithfully,

Dr Larry Clark.

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