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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: "George Williams" <george_williams2006@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:54:50 +0000
Subject: Urgent Response Please

BARRISTER PHILIP GEORGE & CHAMBERS
solicitors & Advocates(Notary public)
of The Supreme Court Of Nigeria
Our Ref: TOB/AT LAW/1717/2005
ADDRESS: N0 35 Saint Street Aguda Lagos Nigeria

Hello dear
RE: Notification of Bequest With gratitude to God to a life well spent and
on behalf of my lateclient Rev. Dr. JOHN OKONKWO, I write to notify you that
my late client made you a beneficiary to the bequest sum of One Million Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD $1,500.000) in the last codicil
to his last WILL and testament of the year 2003.

Late Rev. Dr. JOHN OKONKWO died of high blood pressure on the 2nd
February 2004. Until his death, late Rev. Dr. JOHN OKONKWO was a regional
director in Nigeria with United Nations Refugees and humanitarian
commission.

A renowned PHILANTHROPIST, who has widely travelled and very good
Christian of the Christian fellowship of Nigeria. A non denominational
society. According to him he is giving you this amount because of your
active involvement in the upliftment of Christian activities with its
ministries and making better the world’s situation for the acceptanceof
Christian religion in Christ Jesus as the son of God.

We the executors and trustees of this WILL wish to inform you that the
WILL was read at the High Court probate Division on the 5th June
2005 as the law provides in section (52) sub-section 3&4 of the Nigeria
constitution and is ready for execution.You are therefore required by this
notification to confirm your ownership to this legacy by forwarding to us
immediately via e-mail, your current telephone, e-mail and fax number
(private) for easy communication and prompt payment without delay.

Your contact address (private) is also required for verification and
authentication of the WILL as the law stipulated.

A photocopy of your international passport number or drivers licence if
available shall be required from you on the day of your payment. This is to
avoid paying to a wrong beneficiary.We shall detail you on the procedure
involved in executing this will upon the receipt of your prompt e-mail
response.

We are sorry for not notifying you by posted mail due to the urgency
required in this matter and also your e-mail contact was given to us
by the wife of my late client.

Thanks and God bless.
HON.BARRISTER PHILIP GEORGE
Head of Chamber.


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