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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: Charles okilo <charles.okilo2@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2017 09:43:57 +0000
Subject: Attention:My Friend


Attention:My Friend

Well, I am CHARLES OKILO, a Solicitor and the Personal Attorney to Late Mr. Albert Fong, who was a Petro Chemical Engineer and Consultants contracted with Benin Petroleum SA.
On the 23rd January 2012, my client died due to oesophagus Cancer. Since then I have made several inquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but to no avail,hence, I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank .
The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or business associate or have the account confiscated.

Since I have been unsuccessful in Locating the relatives for years, I seek your consent To present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $10.8 million dollars can be paid to you.

I will procure all Necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this Deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this Deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Therefore,i will advice you provide your contact details such as;

Full Names.......................
Mailing address..................
Tel/Mobile Number................
Fax Number.......................
Occupation.................... ...
Age........................... ...
Email....................


Barr. CHARLES OKILO
Carré n°39 Guinkomey
Cotonou, Benin Republic
01 BP 1589
Solicitor


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