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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: "Mr. Ernest Gordon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lglchams05@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 23:05:21 +0100
Subject: I have tried without success to locate You

Hope this email gets to you as it is the third time I am sending it to you.
 
I have tried without success to locate either your contact address or phone number and as such I resorted to email which is an unconventional way of relaying an important message such as this.
 
We are conducting a standard process investigation/Recommendation on behalf of African Development Bank Group (ADB), The African Investment Banking Conglomerate.
 
This investigation is about an account holder (Name Withheld) who bears same surname with you and the circumstances surrounding his investments at ADB Invest Account, the Investment arm of African Development Bank Group. The ADB Private Investment client died intestate and nominated no successor in title over his investments made at the bank amounting to over 7,000,000 in United States currency. The essence of this communication is to request that you provide us information/comments on any or all of the four issues as regards nominating you to inherit the fund left behind by this client.
 
Your answers and response(s) to the questions raised below will determine our recommendation to the ADB towards legally appointing you to inherit this investment fund after certified investigation has yielded results showing that there is no known relation of the deceased client.
 
1-Are you aware of any relative/relation born on the 2nd of February 1951, who bears your same surname whose last known contact address was Angola?
 
2-Are you aware of any investment of considerable value made by such a person at the ADB Bank Group?
 
3-Can you confirm your willingness to accept this inheritance if you are legally and legitimately appointed.
 
4-Would you agree to donate part of this inheritance to charity if you are officially approved to stand as the inheritor?
 
It is pertinent that you inform us ASAP whether or not you are familiar with this personality or and your interest towards the issues mentioned.
You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this point. We will provide you with additional information upon receipt of your response.
 
Thanks.
 
Mr. Ernest Gordon
For: E & G Consults Limited
Suite C, 29 Harley Street,
London, W1G 9QR
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 70359 97215
Fax: No: +44 7005 963248
 
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: