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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.Steven Clark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <contactclark@inmail.sk>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 08:49:20 -0700
Subject: Hello,Kindly Update Us.


Attn:

Please pardon me as I am aware that this is not a conventional way of
relaying an important message such as this. I did try without success
to locate either your contact address or fax number and as such, I
resorted in contacting you via email.

My name is Mr. Johnson J. Watts, a senior partner in the firm of JJW
Consults Inc, in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom; we are a Private
Investigators, Security Consultants and Financial Managers. We are conducting a
standard process investigation/Recommendation on behalf of African
Development Bank Group (ADB), The African Investment Banking Conglomerate in
conjunction with standard Bank International London thus will be
referred to as our clients.

This investigation involves an account holder (Name Withheld) who bears
same surname with you and also the circumstances surrounding his
investments at ADB Invest Account, the Investment Banking arm of
African Development Bank Group. The ADB Private Investment client died
intestate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with the
bank amounting to over SEVEN Million US Dollars. The essence of this
communication with you is to request that you provide us
information/comments on any or all of the four issues as regards
nominating you to inherit the fund left behind by this client.

Your answers and response(s) to the questions raised below will
determine our recommendation to the ADB towards legally appointing you
to inherit this investment fund after certified investigation has yielded
results showing that there is no known relation of the deceased
client.

1-Are you aware of any relative/relation born on the 2nd of February
1951, who bears your same surname whose last known contact address was
Angola.

2-Are you aware of any investment of considerable value made by such a
person at the Investment Banking Division of ADB Bank Group?

3-Can you confirm your willingness to accept this inheritance if you
are legally and legitimately appointed.

4-Would you agree to donate part of this inheritance to charity if you
are officially approved to stand as the inheritor?

It is pertinent that you inform us ASAP whether or not you are familiar
with this personality or and your interest towards the issues
mentioned.

You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with
more detailed information at this point. We will provide you with
additional information upon receipt of your response.

Thank you for accommodating our inquiry.

Mr. Johnson Watts
For: JJW Consults Inc.
7 Lancaster Road
Cressex Business Park
High Wycombe
HP12 3QP
Buckinghamshire, UK

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