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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: "BARRISTER ANDREAS VLACHOS" <Barr.andreasvlachos@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 20:50:21 +0530 (IST)
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL

Barr. Andreas Vlachos.
Private Email:Barr.andreasvlachos@gmail.com

Attention:Sir/Ma,

We do not know each other, but you are one of the three persons I have
sent this email to with the hope to get a positive and sincere response in
order to go into a deal that would bring life fortune to us. I am
Barrister Andreas Vlachos a Greek/Spanish national, a solicitor at law. I
am the personal attorney to a client who was a Foreign Contractor Engineer
and has spent most of his life here in Spain.

On the 19th of April 2006, my client, his wife and their only son were
involved in a ghastly car accident along Pinto express road. All occupants
of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made
several enquiries to his embassy to locate any of my clients extended
relatives but all efforts was unsuccessful. After these several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you and solicit for your
confidential assistance as a foreigner to execute the claim of this fund.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the assets and Capital
valued at US$18.5million left behind by my client before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank in Madrid Spain, where
these huge deposits were lodged. The said Bank has issued me a notice to
provide the next of Kin or have the account confiscated within the next
twenty-one Official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now, I seek the consent to present you as the Next of kin to the deceased
since no-one has come for the fund, so that the proceeds of this account
can be paid to you. The request of a foreigner as the next of kin in this
transaction is occasioned by the fact that my client was a foreigner and
the money cannot be paid into a local bank here, so it will be better for
you stand as the next of kin to my client. Therefore, on receipt of your
positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities
for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed
to back you up for claim.

All I require from you is your honest cooperation 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.
Please reply if interested via fax or e-mail at;
Barr.andreasvlachos@gmail.com Waiting to hear from you.

Yours sincerely,
Barr. Andreas Vlachos.



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