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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: eric pino <eric_pino5@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: ericpino_001@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:39:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GET BACK TO ME:Micheal Gallatin


LEGAL ATTORNEY & SOLICITOR
ROYAL CHAMBER 14,
RUE DE JANVIE BP 10556
LOME TOGO WEST AFRICA

LEGAL ATTORNEY & SOLICITOR


Attn; Micheal Gallatin,

From the Desk of Barrister Eric Pino, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to Mr.P.B Gallatin,a national of your country, who used to work as a contractor and importer in Lome Togo.[West Africa] here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 26th December 2003, my client, his wife and their only daugther were involved in a plane crash in a village called Adjarra near Porto Novou after take off from Cotonou in Benin Republic where they went for a Concert .It was unfortunate that my client and his family all lost their lives in that crash.For more on the plane crash log on to
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm
Since then I have made several enquiries here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to search through with his last name which motivated me to contact you, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my late client before they get confiscated, frozen or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly where the deceased had an account valued at about $12.Million United States Dollars Only (Twelve Million ,United States Dollars Only)

The Management has issued me a notice to provide the next Of kin or have the account frozen within the next twenty Two Official working days.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now i seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD12M can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.

I have all the necessary legal informations / Documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. And this I must do to make sure that this fund is not Wasted or end up in the wrong hands.All I require is your honesty , co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I am waiting your urgent reply. Please you can reach me through my private email address as indicated. Thanks for understanding , waiting to hear from you urgently for more updates.

Yours Truly
Barrister Eric Pino.(ESQ),


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