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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" <charlesrussellesq@gala.net>
Reply-To: charles.russellesq@gala.net
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 20:55:31 -0400 (EDT)
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.

SUB: LATE SIR. JOHN PAUL GETTY'S WILL

We are not sure you received our previous letter wherein we expressed our
grave concerns about the estate of our late client. On behalf of the
Trustees and Executors of the late British Philanthropist, Sir John Paul
Getty Jr., we wish to notify you once again that the late Sir John 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 Sterling Only (GBP9,708,692.00) which is
equivalent to the sum of $15,533,900 USD (Fifteen Million Five Hundred and
Thirty Three Thousand Nine Hundred United States Dollars) to you in the
codicil and last testament to his (WILL) which is eleven (11%) of his total
funds of GBP88,260,443.00 (Eighty Eight Million Two Hundred and Sixty
Thousand Four Hundred and Forty Three Great British Pounds Sterling.

This may sound very strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and
true. Sir. John Paul Getty Jr; 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.

For more information contact Attorney Charles Russell Esq directly at;

Email: charles.russellesq@gala.net
Tel: Tel:+44 (0) 702 405 4915

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours in services,
Mary Bernard
Assistance Para Legal
Charles Russell LLP

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