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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: "JOHNSON MANDILAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mandilasjohnson@e-mail.ua>
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:35:29 +0100
Subject: YOUR INHERITANCE CLAIM.



Dear Sir/Madam,


It is with due respect and sincerity of purpose that I write you now with a view of establishing if possible a relationship with you in confidence. Although, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, however, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication. I am MR. JOHNSON MANDILAS the principal attorney, Mandilas and Associate Law Firm. I am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that is attached to this deal for the benefit of both of us. My client who is now deceased (name withheld for security reason) who has the same surname with you was unfortunate to have been amongst those that were Killed during the Tsunami Disaster few years ago. This man was my client and has a Life Assurance Policy WORTH the sum of Fourteen Million, five hundred fifty five thousand United States Dollars (US$14,555,000.00). Right now, the fund is lying unclaimed with the Insurance Company without claims.

All efforts made by us to contact any of his relatives were abortive and unsuccessful. His Life assurance Policy expired last month. It was just last week that we received a letter from the Insurance Company requesting us to present the Inheritor/Beneficiary and the relevant payment documents alongside Certificates to enable them commence processes for the payment of the assured sum to inheritor's account. It is imperative to inform you that all the necessary documentations required by the Insurance Company to make the Insurance Policy payment to our client is in our possession as we are the attorney to my late client. I am contacting you based on the fact that you have the same surname with him and also from the same country with him being a foreigner. I want to present you as the cousin to my late client so that this fund shall be paid to your account by the Insurance Company thereafter we disburse the fund on 50/50 basis after its successful conclusion. Be assured that the trans
action shall be concluded

I will provide you with all relevant documentations to back up the claims perfectly which include the Acceptance Certificate from the Insurance Company, Deed of Will of my late client and other vital documents needed to bring this transaction to a logical conclusion. The whole Procedures is expected to take only five (5) working days to get the fund approval successfully into your account. Acknowledge your acceptance by forwarding your information via email


1. YOUR FULL NAME:............................................................
2. TELEPHONE NUMBERS:....................................................
3. HOME ADDRESS:...............................................................
4. YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION:..........................................

Please should you consider this transaction unacceptable kindly delete it from your box in good faith.
Thank you for your understanding.

Kind Regards,

JOHNSON MANDILAS ESQ, BA (Hons), LL.M. (UCL, London)
PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY

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