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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: "Barr. Charles Russell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrcharlesrussell@live.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:22:36 +0100
Subject: DID YOU RECEIVED MY PREVIOUS EMAIL

Charles Russell LLP
London Office St James's (London)
Kingsbury House
15-17 King Street
London SW1Y 6QU
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 702 403 8071


Greetings from Charles Russell LLP,

On behalf of the Trustees and Executors of the late British
Philanthropist, Sir J. Paul Getty Jr., I once again try to notify you as
our letter to you through the post was returned 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 Eighty
Eight Million Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and GBP
88,260,443.00 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 died in London , England , Died on 16 April, 2003 at
the age of (71) years.According to him this money is to support your
humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours in services,
Barr. Charles Russell
Charles Russell LLP

Anti-fraud resources: