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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: "Anthony" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usembassymccully@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2015 12:43:15 -0000
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL (NEXT OF KIN)

Blackstone Chambers,
Blackstone House, Temple,London EC4Y 9BW
 
 
Greetings,
 
 
I am Barrister Anthony Peto, London, United Kingdom. I am a lawyer by profession, as such I got your contact through a web directory search and decided to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF KIN to my Late Client who was a U.S born Oil Merchant but a British based business man and international contractor before he died. My Deceased Client has a contract payment valued at  37,650,000.00 Euros (Thirty Seven Million Six hundred and fifty thousand Euros) with Falkland oil and Gas marketing company, London UK which is about to be paid to him, but unfortunately my client lost his life in an auto crash, and left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the contract which he executed with Falkland oil and Gas marketing company, London, UK which are still with me. All efforts by me to trace his Next of Kin proved abortive because he did not make any will prior to his death.
 
 
These funds we are about to transfer into your account was accrued from the contract payment for the supply of oil and gas equipments, storage product for Falkland oil and Gas marketing company, London UK. Also be informed that the Governing Board of directors of Falkland oil and Gas marketing company, London UK has contacted me on this matter and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin or any relation to lay claims to the Funds. Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be presented as the next of Kin, as I will like to invest my own share of the funds in your country so that my late client's funds will not be confiscated by the British government. I propose a sharing formula of 50/50 if you will agree to stand in as the next of kin and have the funds transferred into any account that you will provide.
 
 
Most importantly, i will use my position as my late client's personal attorney to secure a classified power of attorney in your favor that will name you as the next of kin of my late client and this will be obtained from Her majesty Court service here in the United Kingdom. As well as all modalities to effect the payment and subsequent transfer of this money will be worked out by you and I, so be rest assured that this transaction is 100% risk free, though you are required to treat this transaction with utmost confidentiality. On your acceptance to work with me, please send me your personal details as listed below for speedy correspondence.
 
 
Full Name .....................................
Company Name.......................... ...
Official Status/Position............. ..
Contact Address .............................
Country of Origin ...........................
Date of Birth......................... .........
Phone Number ..................Cell Phone ....................
Occupation.................... .................
Sex........................... .......................
Marital status........................ ..........
 
 
I await your urgent response.
 
 
Yours faithfully,
Barrister Anthony Peto (QC)

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