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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: Barr.Robert Neal <barr.robertneal04@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <barr.nealrobert@hotmail.fr>
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:25:02 +0000
Subject: Details Clarification



Dear Vladimir Merkulov,



Greetings and thank you very much for your response to my proposal and possibly your assistance to me in this matter.

I have gone through your message and the contents are noted, I got your contact via mail.ru Russian site while I was in search of someone who shares the same surname with my late client or a possible relation over there in Russian.

First of all , I want to assure you that what I have brought before you is as clear as a daylight which will never endanger your position in any way. Regarding my present position in my country as a legal practitioner and luminary, as such, there is no way I can indulge in any illegitimate activities that will bring a hold instrument to my profession or tarnish my image in the society.

I contacted you into this matter due to your surname similarity with my late client . As the personal attorney to late Mr.Egor Merkulov,it is my responsibility to retrieve his assets and clear his name since his wife and only female child who are statutorily his next of kins died alongside of him in the ghastly automobile accident.

At this juncture, I will not hesitate to give you more information in regards to this matter but before I do that , I will tell you more about myself.

I am Barr.Robert Neal, a legal practitioner and principal attorney working in all areas of the family court jurisdiction. I married with four kids, boys and the name of my Wife is Mrs.Naomi Neal,I am living here in my country called Togo Republic and also my late client was living here with his family before them died togather in a car accident.

I have been the personal attorney to Late Mr.Egor Merkulov,for a period of five years before he met his untimely death with all members of his family. Ever since then, I have done everything possible to trace his relatives without any luck. Most of his properties were vandalised by hoodlums and some overgrown by weeds as there is no one to look after them.

It was until his bank invited me to their office last year and mandated me as his personal attorney here in Lome Togo to locate and present to them his next of kin so that they will release and transfer his outstanding funds with them that I decided to track his last name in search of a trust worthy person who will assist me in putting claim to the funds, hence I found you.

What I am asking you to do is to stand as a next of kin to Late Mr.Egor Merkulov,and put claim to the funds he left behind with the bank ,instructing them to release and re-transfer the funds into your designate bank account in your country.

On the receipt of your next mail indicating your sincere willingness to work with me, I will immediately forward you an application form of claim which you will fill and fax to the bank here to enable this transaction commence officially.

As soon as this is done, I will send to you a specimen of an application letter which you will retype and send to the bank putting claim to the funds. The greatest advantage we have in this together is the fact that both of you have the same surname and the main fact that it is whosoever I present to the bank as his next of kin will certainly inherit the funds.

Please write as soon as possible indicating your interest in this transaction.

I can be reach via +228 744 09 92

I anxiously await your response.
Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,
Barr.Robert Neal.


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