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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: "Rafael Lazaro" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rjlarazo@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2019 14:41:52 -0700
Subject: Welcome! Pleased to meet you

I am very pleased to meet you;
 
I have a great desire to contact you. I require your assistance as a relative of my late client who was a business magnate that lived in Europe for over a decade prior to his death. I got your contact through your country state municipal, while searching for any possible (Relative) or Last Name to him. My Names are Rafael Jorge Lazaro a legal representative,Attorney to an expatriate building contractor, promoter with an independent business magnate that lived in Europe.
 
Prior to death of my client; My Client successfully executed a contract worth the sum of $7.4M(Million dollars )The government is fully paying all foreign contractors who have successfully executed their contracts and my client is among those to benefit in this payment schedule, which has already been deposited with his bank. As his Attorney/Adviser, the bank has officially notified and instructed me to present any member of his family to make Claims, so that he/she can be paid the outstanding deposit, which have been recorded. I will like to present you as the family Sole Beneficiary to the bank. We offer a comprehensive privilege and protection as attorney-client and applicable to us as attorneys.
 
I want you to follow up regarding the email I sent to you. My number is Ph: 011 (34) 632-85-6061.It will work well for you. It’s more professional and that you have to be more serious about it. I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you and I'll be happy to explain further about.
 
 
Reply strictly to my personnel Email: rafjlazaro@gmail.com
With your Telephone Number for effective communication and oral clarification on how to proceed next.
 
Your Printed Name: ----------------------
Telephone Number: -----------------------
 
Respectfully yours,
Rafael Jorge Lazaro | (Consultant)
+ (34) 632-85-6061

Anti-fraud resources: