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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: "Holgate Harrington Esq." <smtpfox-rqvyj@canaldafranquia.com.br>
Reply-To: info@bigideasconsultants.com
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:54:42 -0300
Subject: Unclaimed Funds Transfer



--
Good Day:



My name is Harrington Holgate, a solicitor at law and I'm contacting you
in regards to a deceased client who died in an auto accident on May 15th
2016; he was a prominent client of mine. He happened to share the same
nationality with you.




Before his death, my client deposited (GBP£82,964,790.13). At the vault
of a financial institution here in Europe; documents regarding this
transaction indicate that claims can only be made by his relative/family
member or a foreign business associate. Unfortunately he had no WILL at
the time of his death and all efforts made revealed no link to any of
his family members.



However, the new EU law of succession/claim/fund indicates a duration in
which such claims could be tolerated. The financial institution has
mandated me to present the next of kin or a relative/foreign business
associates who would claim the funds and failure to respond to this
ultimatum would legally allow the financial institution to report these
funds to the European Central Bank as unclaimed funds.



I and my colleagues have put in place all the necessary requirements
concerning the release of these funds and it is my intention to
introduce this opportunity to you as the Beneficiary. Please note that
I'm legally equipped with all the necessary information/documents
concerning these funds.



Upon your decision of acceptance, I would process the release of these
funds to your possession; you would be entitled to 50% of the said funds
and 50% for me; for security reasons, I have decided not to add more
information into this letter, but immediately you get in touch with me,
I would be able to inform you how this could be concluded.



For time differences and confidential reasons, I strongly advise that
you first contact me via email. It's been my wish to have an investment
outside my country, so this is an opportunity for me to invest my share
of these funds in your country and under your management.




In conclusion, it's my concern to demand your ultimate honesty,
co-operation and confidentiality to enable us to conclude this
transaction. I guarantee that this process would be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that would legally protect you from any breach of
law.




Best wishes,
Harrington Holgate Esq.
Harrington Law, LLC

Anti-fraud resources: