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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: BarristerRichard BarristerBakare <barristerrichardofficials@yahoo.in>
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 07:55:07 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attn Dear


Attn Dear 
This Mail Might Come to You As a Surprise and The Temptation to ignore it as Unserious Could Come into your mind but Please consider it a Divine wish and Accept it with a Deep Sense of Humility Though, this medium (Internet) has Been Greatly Abused,But I choose to Reach You Through it Because it still Remains the Fastest Medium of Communication.   For avoidance of doubts, my name is Barrister Richard Bakare, I am a full time practicing lawyer registered with the Benin Bar Association as well as a Member of African Independent Financial Advisors.   My purpose of writing you this confidential mail is hinged on the fact that; I was personal attorney to Dr. William Jerry  Precisely on June,2005 while returning from Accra Ghana to Cotonou Benin where he base after a weekend holiday at Labadi beach Hotel, my client and members of his family (wife and daughter) died in ghastly motor accident by running into a stationery Trailer without warning sign.   After his death with members of his family,due process was followed to alert members of the public and any relation of his through Electronic Media Obituary Announcement both in the local television station here in Cotonou Benin, Also I took personal steps to announce his death through internet advert but yet up till this moment of writing no surviving relation of my said client ever came forward.   Right now his Bank has written me requesting me to contact any serving relation of his for the purpose of transferring his estate in the sum of (US$2.6M) . Due to the pressure from the Bank I decided to present you as the next of kin to my said deceased client and to further ask your hand of co-operation under utmost confidentiality to claim the outstanding sum by presenting you as the Next of Kin of my late client.   Needless to reassure you that as a Lawyer and personal attorney to my late client, all the necessary information and documents that will sufficiently prove to the officials of the Bank that you are the next of Kin to the deceased shall be obtained legally from the probate section of the High Court.   I would therefore request you to give this letter serious thought and get back to me urgently. You can also reach me through my Private Tel:+229 993 539 49 .    Regards. Barrister Richard Bakare.


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