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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: "Barr. Fred Mike" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerfredmike001@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 20:29:04 +0100
Subject: BEST REGARDS......CAN WE DO THIS TOGETHER?

 
ASSOCIATE
(LEGAL PRACTITIONER)
FRED & JONES CHAMBER
No. 85, Western Avenue,
Surulere, Lagos.
Email(barristerfredmike001@yahoo.com )
 
Dear Friend,
 
It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a surprise; this is
because we have not met before but I am inspired to sending you this email
following the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual
benefit to the two of us.
However, I am Barrister Fred Mike , Attorney to the late Engr. Ronald
Johnson, a national of Northern American, who used to work with Shell
Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Nigeria On the 11th of November,
2002. My client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car
accident along Sagamu/Lagos Express Road.
Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident,
since then I have made several inquiries to several Embassies to locate
any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his
relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but of no
avail, hence I contacted you.
I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client; I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice
that you are the only surviving relation of my client. Otherwise the
Estate he left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviced by the
bank where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where
the deceased had an account valued at about $15 million U.S dollars
(Fifteen million U.S. America dollars).
 
Consequently, The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or
have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over several
years now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at $15million U.S
dollars can be paid to your account and then you and I can share the
money, 50% to me and 50% to you.
 
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through and also forward the following to me:
(1) YOUR FULL NAMES:------------------------ ------
(2) YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS:--------------------
(3) YOUR CURRENT PHONE NUMBER/S:---------------
(4) YOUR FAX NUMBER IF ANY:------------------------
(5) THE NAME OF YOUR BANK:------------------------- ----
(6) THE BANK"S ADDRESS:---------------------- ---------------
(7) YOUR ACCOUNT NAME:------------------------- ----------
(8) YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER/CODE:------------------ -------------
(9) YOUR AGE/GENDER:------------------- ------------------------------
(10) YOUR OCCUPATION:------------------- -------
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.
 
Please get in touch with me VIA this my confidential email
( barristerfredmike001@yahoo.com )
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Fred Mike (SAN)

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