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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: "DONOVAN CHARLES" <donovancharles56@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 13:35:24 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Good day





ATTORNEY CHARLES DONOVAN & ASSOCIATES
ADVOCATES SOLICITORS,No 12
shooters hill,London, SE11 4QH
E-mail address;donovancharles18@yahoo.com
Good Day,

I am barrister Charles Donovan, an attorney at law. A decease client of
mine, who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as the
result of a heart-related condition on the 11 November 2001. His heart
condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the
Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000
- 2:50 p.m. ET as reported
on: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html


I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my
client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
where this deposit valued at Ten Million Eight Hundred Thousands British
Pounds( GBP10.8 million Pounds) is lodged. This bank has issued me a
notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.


My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same
last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then
we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal
documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be
provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through.


This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from many breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your
moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore
you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary
confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response.
Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.in me private email
address..charlesdonovan29@yahoo.com.hk............................


Best Regards,
Barr.CHARLES DONOVAN.

(Principal Partner)

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