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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: "MAVIS D. MAXWELL (Mr)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infomrmavismaxwell@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2017 08:00:15 -0500
Subject: Re: ...your helping hand is needed here

Dear Sir/Madam;

I’m MAVIS MAXWELL, Lawyer at Adams law firm which is located in London, England. I am contacting you in regards to a deceased client who died in UK on June 2013 alongside with his entire family in a car accident; he was a prominent client of mine who happens to share the same SURNAME with you.

Before his death, my client deposited USD $5,800,000.00 (Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars USD) at a financial institution here in London, documentations regarding these transaction indicates that claims can only be made by his relatives/family member. After abortive searching for a direct family member which came to no avail, I was given an ultimatum to look for some relative to put up a claim or have the funds confiscated in accordance with the existing Inheritance laws.

Against this backdrop and since you have the same surname; you are eligible for this claim, which I suggest that you should stand as the heir. With the modalities I have in place, I can guarantee that if you follow my instructions (The rule of law) the funds will be release to you as the next-of-kin.

I wish to point out that 10% of this money to be shared among the charity Organizations in your country, while the remaining 90% is shared between us in ratio of 30% for me and 60% for you.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant information that will help you understand this transaction well. The intended transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any infraction of the law. However, if this business proposition offends your moral ethics, please do accept my sincere apology and ignore this mail. If on the contrary you wish to achieve this goal with me, kindly get back to me with your interest for further explanation.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

MAVIS D. MAXWELL (Mr)
XMERGE-7628902
54 Whitehall Street
City of Westminster
London, W1 5XE England

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