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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ortiz & Ramirez Abogados" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ortcapdevila@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2018 18:30:20 +0200
Subject: Please confirm receipt of the email

Dearest Relative
 
 
I would be grateful if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter,families in receipt of benefit,having the same Surname with my late client. My Names are (Henderson Ortiz Ramirez); a legal representative, personal Attorney to an expatriate, building promoter with an independent business magnate that lived in Europe for over a decade prior to his death. Actually, I got your contact through your country pages, while searching for any possible relative OR a last Surname similar to my late clients. I hereby request your diligent and authority on behalf of my late client to carry out this claim.
 
 
Prior to my late client death; He made a mutual investments deposit worth the sum of $7.4M (SEVEN MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) with a Financial safekeeping investment company (holding a client's securities or other assets on his/her behalf) here in Europe and declared it as family assets and belongings.As the Attorney/Solicitor present during the deposit by my late client and family, the Financial safekeeping institution company has officially notified and instructed me to present heir/heiress to make Claims, so that he/she can be paid the outstanding deposit, which have been recorded by the company. Else the fund will be confiscated and taken to the Bureau of government treasury as unclaimed.
 
 
All during advent searched, I decided to contact you. I will like to present you as the family member to the financial safekeeping company, you having a common Last Name with him. I would like to assure you that I am proposing this project to you with the best of my intention. All I require from you is your honest co-operation; I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Upon successful conclusion of this project, once the deposit is been release to you, we shall disbursed the content in the ratio of 50% /50% for me respectively as our benefit ($ 3.7M each).
 
 
Kindly reply strictly to my personnel Email: ortcapdevila@gmail.com :  You can also send a fax with your personal Telephone /fax number for effective communication and oral clarification on how to proceed next.
 
 
Your Printed Name: ----------------------
Telephone Number: -----------------------
 
 
Kindest Regards,
Ortiz & Ramirez Abogados
 
 
Executor of Will
TEL: + (34) 631-815-738
TEL: 011-34-631-815-738

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