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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: "Charles Russell LLP" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrcharlesrussellesq@live.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:34:24 -0700
Subject: THIS IS MY THIRD AND FINAL MAIL TO YOU.

Charles Russell LLP
London Office  St James's (London)
8 - 10 New Fetter Lane,
London,
EC4A 1RS, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 703 595 6647    
Fax  +44 844 774 5323
E-mail: barrcharlesrussellesq@live.co.uk
 
 
 
SUB: LATE SIR. JOHN PAUL GETTY'S WILL
 
On behalf of the Trustees and Executors of the late British Philanthropist, Sir John Paul Getty Jr.,  I once again try to notify you as our email to you was returned as a failure delivery (undelivered), hence I hereby attempt to reach you via your e-mail address.
 
I wish to notify you that the late Sir J. Paul Getty Jr. made you one of the beneficiaries to his (WILL), he bequeathed the sum of Nine Million Seven Hundred and Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety Two Great British Pounds Sterlings Only (GBP£9,708,692.7) to you in the codicil and last testament to his (WILL) which is eleven (11%) of his total funds of GBP£88,260,443.00 (Eighty Eight Million Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Forty Three Great British Pounds Sterling deposited with one of UK's biggest financial institution.
 
This may sound very strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely popular traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends here or abroad who wished you well. Sir J. Paul Getty Jr., the reclusive American-born philanthropist was the third son of the first American oil billionaire, billionaire American oilman Jean, Paul Getty.
 
According to him this money is to support religious and humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society.  Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant time. Please forward your response to barrcharlesrussellesq@live.co.uk for immediate attention.
 
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
 
Yours in services,
Barr. Charles Russell
Charles Russell LLP
 
Partners: Barr. Simon Gilbert, Barr. John Walters, Barr. Susan McDonalds and Barr. Catherine Wright
 
Attorney at Law
 

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