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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: "Barr. Atkins Thomson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atkinsthomsonsolicitors915@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2018 09:08:55 -0700
Subject: From Atkins Thomson Solicitors/ Respnd ..91.137.79.1

Atkins Thomson Solicitors & Associates
3 Fleet St, London EC4Y 1AU, UK
Phone:+ 44-7087-698-229
Fax: 44-87-1247-2209
 
Attn: Sir/Madam
 
My name is Atkins Thomson, a legal practitioner based here in London, United Kingdom  and personal attorney to late Robert Fitzpatrick an American who was a contractor with the Shell UK Limited, who shall be referred to as my client,
 
Robert Fitzpatrick unfortunately lost his life in a terrorist attack in Philippines on the 4th March, 2003 (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/bomb-attack-kills-19-at-airport-in-philippines-599543.html) during one of his trip to Asia, and left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the deposit with me.
Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had the said fund valued at US$10,500,000.00 (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United Sates Dollars Only) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin. I am seeking your co -operation to present you as the next of kin to the account. Our sharing ratio will be 30% for you, 60% for me and 10% for reimbursement of any expenditure we may incur.
 
If you are interested, you should reply back immediately and as well include your direct phone number so we could discuss more as regard the transaction.
Thank you and Please treat this with utmost confidentiality. I wait your urgent response.
 
Regards,
 
 
Atkins Thomson, Esq.
Phone:+ 44-7087-698-229
Fax: 44-87-1247-2209

Anti-fraud resources: