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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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Fraud email example:

From: "SMITH COLE" <smithcole@kaixo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: smithcole@k.ro
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 07:13:57 -0800
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST ME.

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Smith Cole,an attorney at law. A
deceased client of mine, by name Mr.Bill Owen, who
here in after shall be referred to as my client,died
as a result of an car accident here in London.

I am contacting you to assist me in ensuring that the
funds lodged by my client with a bank in the New
York,his bank,is not decleared unclaimed hence my
reason for this contact to you.

This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next
of kin, or the account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to
present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my
late client,so that the proceeds of this account can
be paid to you,Then we can share the amount on a
mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my
client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require
is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. If
this business proposition offends your moral values,do
accept my apology. Please contact me at once to
indicate your interest.

However if you are willing to assist me in this
venture i will establish a verbal telephone
communication with you and bring you into a much
better picture of the situation.

You can as well swiftly reach me on my personal E-mail
address smithcole@kaixo.com
smithcole@k.ro

Best Regards,

Barrister Smith Cole

Morley House,

26-30 Holborn Viaduct,

London EC1A 2BP,

U.K




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