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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: "Paul Thurston" <test@test.com>
Reply-To: lorenzobengat@aliyun.com
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:56:54 -0800
Subject: Compliments of the season.

Hello,

I hope this email wouldn't come to you as a surprise. Having gone through your profile, I am convinced and pleased to solicit your sincere and urgent assistance over this matter.

I am Barrister Paul Thurston, an Attorney to late Mr. Peter a local contractor with the Lagos State Government of Nigeria. My client Late was awarded a contract worth of One Hundred and Fifty-Five Million United States Dollars (155,000,000:00USD) by the Lagos state Government of Nigeria for the maintenance and construction of Nigerian National Petroleum corporation Pipeline at Ejigbo Power Depot in the states in 2018 and the contract was fully executed by my late client. My client has been paid One Hundred Million United States Dollars from the contract and he was to receive the balance payment of the contract, but unfortunately my client was involved in a fatal auto accident with his entire family on Sagamu Express Road where he eventually lost his life and his two kids and wife. This was on the 25th of November 2020.

Sequel to the death of my late client, there is every need to present a next of kin to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) via Lagos State Government so that they can release the balance of his contract money. Already the CONTRACT PAYMENT OFFICE under the Lagos State Government has contacted me that the balance payment for the executed contract, which has been approved for payment, is ready for collection. I am therefore asked to present the beneficiary/next of kin for the claim of the money from their office.

At this juncture, I have decided to divert this Fifty-Five Million United States Dollars to a foreigner who will be presented to NNPC/LSG, by soliciting the assistance of a reliable individual (A Foreigner) that will be presented as the beneficiary/next of kin to the deceased for the payment of the fund. I will prepare all legal documents in your name as the successor /next of kin from our Federal High Court to back up the claim on your behalf which will enable Lagos State Government & NNPC to release the money into your nominated bank account on your behalf as the known next of kin to my late client.

As soon as I receive a positive response from you; action will commence. Please bear in mind that there is no risk involved in this transaction, but it requires absolute sincerity and confidentiality due to the nature of the transaction.

I am willing to give you 40% of the fund as a reward for your assistance in this transaction while 10% of the money will be set aside after successful claim of this money to take care of any expenses that will be involved locally or internationally during the process of executing the business. I will want you to respond to my email via the below email address if you find it difficult getting this one, with your private phone numbers, fax number, cell phone #, your home/Company's Address as I will be coming over to your end for the sharing and for easy communication.

I look forward to your swift response via my private email: ( thurstonpaul44@gmail.com ).

Regards,
Barrister Paul Thurston

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