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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: patrica william <patricawilli@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 08:15:34 +0100
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?PLEASE_REP?= =?windows-1256?Q?LY_URGENTL?=
=?windows-1256?B?Wf7+?=

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to introduce this transaction to you. I am Mrs.Patrica William ,An attorney and solicitor with Freedom Chambers.Please be patient and absorb the contents of this email which I believe is a message that will be beneficial to the both of us.I am the legal representative to Late Stephanos ,A national of Greece who herein after shall be referred to as my late client. Who died as a result of car crash. Until his death he was a contractor with Oil Company in Nigeria.Basically, my aim of writing you is to assist me secure the funds left behind by my late client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this fund valued at (7.5 Million Dollars) was deposited.As both of you share the same country it will be easy for me to claim the fund.

I have a mandate from the bank to present the next of kin to the deceased or the funds will be confiscated and so far, all my efforts to get hold of someone who share the same country with this man has proved abortive.I want you to consider this proposal. If you grant your consent that I present you to the bank as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client ,so that the proceeds of this fund can be transferred to you, then we can share the entire proceeds on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documentation to back up your claim as my deceased client's next-of-kin will be provided and I will back it up with the power i have as an Attorney. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through.This entire process will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, Please contact me at once to indicate your full interest.

Best Regards,
Senior Attorney . ( consultant)
Mrs.Patrica William

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