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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: "Edwards Alexander" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardschambers@representative.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2017 19:44:22 -0700
Subject: Please respond immediately seeking for your assistance

Hello friend,
 
I'm Mr. Edward Alexander of Alexander Attorneys, we specialize in corporate and legal claims. I am contacting you in regards to a deceased client who died in an auto accident in Cape Town, South Africa in March 2012, He was a citizen of your country and share the same last name with you.
 
Before his death, my client had USD 18,750,000.00 Eighteen million seven hundred & fifty thousand dollars, with a financial institution here in South Africa; In view of the South African Law of Succession, claims of this nature can only be made by a surviving relative/ family member. Unfortunately he had no will at the time of death. All efforts made through some Private Investigators in South Africa have revealed no link to any of his family member, but your name came up because you share same last name.
 
With the applicable law of succession there is a duration within which such claims must be applied for, and as a result I am under pressure to present the next of kin or a relative who will claim the funds, and failure to do this would legally allow the financial institution to report the funds to the South African Treasury as unclaimed funds Lack of supersede. It is therefore my intention to introduce you as the next of kin/beneficiary, Please note that I'm legally equipped with all necessary information/documentations concerning the funds.
 
 
Best regards,
Edwards Alexander

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