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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: John Coker <cokerjohn61@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: johncoker2012@o2.pl
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:14:38 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Reply to my mail




From: JC Chambers
Cotonou, Republic of Benin
Email: johncoker60@gmail.com
Date..15/11/2011


I am John Coker a personal attorney to the late Mr. Nicolas A., a national of your country who used to work as a chairman with Societe Beninnose D’Electricites ET D’eau Cotonou, Republic of Benin Here. On the 21st of May 2008,my client Mr. Nicolas A., his wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident along portnovo express-road, All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
 
Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance Institute where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, ECOBANK where the deceased had an account valued at about US$18.5 million has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next eleven official working days.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$18.5 million can be paid to your account and then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you,
 
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
 
Please contact me through my private email address  ( johncoker60@gmail.com )  for details immediately you access this mail.
 
Best regards,
 
John Coker



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