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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: "JOHN KANSAS ESQ" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnkansasesq@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2021 16:10:24 -0700
Subject: Please let me know if I can TRUST YOU 11

  Greetings my dear,
 
I am writing this mail to you with heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow in my heart.  As I informed you earlier, I am  the Personal assistant/Lawyer to Late(Mrs.)Sandra Sharon Bricks  from America  and  a widow to the late Mr.Bricks, she was 63 years old, and suffered from long term Cancer of the breast. From all indications her condition  really deteriorated and it was quite obvious that she finally died of covid 19  complications 2 months  ago according to the doctors.
 
I have some documents related to the funds she inherited from her late loving husband Mr.Bricks, a huge sum of only $7M ,  deposited  in a Finance Company . I need a very honest,reliable and God fearing person that can use these funds for investment and Charity work as she instructed me through her will, helping the Less Privileges, and 70 Percent of this money will be given to you for a joint investment and safekeeping, while 30 percent goes to charities as the will indicated.
 
Please let me know if I can TRUST YOU ON THIS to carry out this favor for this late woman.  I look forward to your prompt reply for more details .
 
  REPLY
 
 
Yours sincerely
JOHN KANSAS ESQ

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