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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: "Anthony Gold Esq." (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:22:49 +0100
Subject: Reminder: Urgent Respond

ANTHONY GOLD ASSOCIATE
1 Woolworth Road
London SW16 1BG
Tel: +44 702 408 4096
Fax: +44 844 774 1575

Date: 26/01/2011

NOTIFICATION OF CLAIM

I write as a solicitor in respect of my client who died mysteriously in a motto accident and is yet to be proven as your relative. As the sole executor of his WILL, it is his wish that I notify you the following.

1. That my client wrote a WILL in favour of his relative before his death.

2. That the said man according to my record has a deposit sum of 9.4m Euros in his bank account.

3. And that I am willing to assist you make this claim with all the necessary legal backup and due process.

4. But that you will have to forward to me as a matter of fact your personal data and any form of identification for proper verification.

According to WILL policy you are now advised to forward us the below for confirmation and commerce the process of your claim:

(1) FULL NAME
(2) FULL ADDRESS
(3) SEX
(4) AGE
(5) COMPANY
(6) OCCUPATION:
(7) TEL/FAX
(8) COUNTRY
(9) BIRTH CERTIFICATE
(10) PASSPORT OR OTHER
(11) BANK DETAILS (IF POSSIBLE)
:
I anticipate your maximum cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Gold Esq.
Tel: +44 702 408 4096
AnthonyGold@mail.com

Anti-fraud resources: