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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: "Your Name" <kleanthis@epiphaniou-group.com>
Reply-To: donaustine@lawyer.com
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 02:17:02 -0500
Subject:

Good day."
I am Donald Austine, a solicitor at law. My client, his wife and their only
son were involved in a Bomb Blast in - Nigeria. The whole occupants of the
in building unfortunately lost there lives which included my client and his
family. Since I have made several enquiries to their embassy 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 have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued
US$7.5million left behind by my late client before it gets confiscated or
declared unserviceable by the Financial Institution where this fund is
lodged, The said Company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin
or have the account confiscated within the next 7 days. For the fact that I
have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for some years now, I seek
the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, since you
have the same last name with my client, so that the proceeds of this account
can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we
shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.
I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up
for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us
see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I
will appreciate talking to you do provide me with your Private Line
Kindly reply to my private email account as stated: donaustine@lawyer.com

Best Regards,
Barrister Donald Austine.
DA.Chambers (Esq.)


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