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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: "Eric Howard." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <eric.howard1@onet.eu>
Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2016 09:36:48 -0700
Subject: Notification

>From Eric Howard,
External and Internal Audit Control Unit.
Bank in England .
 
Good day,
 
I am Mr. Eric Howard. I have emailed you earlier on without any response from you. I am among the Advisory Panel that was mandated to advise the Bank on external and internal audit control systems of the Bank, hence I have decided to contact you to stand as the next of kin to the deceased customer to enable us receive his deposit as inheritance for investment amounted to US$9 Million only.
 
On my first email I mentioned about my late client whose relatives I cannot get in touch with. But both of you have the same last name so it will be very easy to front you as his official next of kin. I am compelled to do this because I would not want the finance house to push my client??s funds into their treasury as unclaimed inheritance.
 
Note that you are to furnish me with the requested information's bellow immediately;
 
(1)Full names.
(2)Contact address.
(3)Telephone and fax numbers.
(4)Location.
 
If you are interested  do let me know so that I can give you Comprehensive details on what we are to do. Waiting for your response.
 
Many Thanks,
 
Eric Howard.

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