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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: Byran Coleman <barr.byrancoleman1@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:41:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Regarding Mr Lee Harris.


You will need an HTML enable email to view the ecard.

http://www.ringo.com/photos/photo.html?photoId=196905332&origin=photoinvite

My name is Barrister Byran Coleman,an Attorney in practice here in London-England.I had a client by name Mr Lee Harris ,but now deceased.My client lost his life alongside his wife on the 7th of July 2005 on a bomb blast here in London.Details of this incidence can be checked on the following
newslink:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4663931.stm Prior to the Death of my Late Client he made a fixed deposit of US$7,500,000.00 Million in a security firm in London,England.
As his personal Attorney ,I have notified the security firm here in U.K where the money is currently deposited that I should forward the particulars of Mr.Lee's next of kin so that the Funds in his Account can be remitted into his Next of Kin's Account in accordance with British Laws.If you can cooperate with me and receive this funds as next of kin to Mr.Lee's ,confirm your interest by contacting me through my EMAIL.
Barr Byran Coleman.

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