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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: "Mr. Pietro Bruno" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brunopietrop3@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2022 03:55:25 +0100
Subject: Re:Dringender Vorschlag

Name: Mr. Pietro Bruno
Address: Via Pomezia, 10, 00183 Roma
Italy.
Tel: +39 3497 078639

Hello
You might be surprised to receive this business proposal. I did search for you on the internet. I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of my deceased client. I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this email private even if you decide not to assist me and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail. I contact you independently and no one is informed of this communication.
He was my client for over a decade. He died of cardiac arrest in 2007. He had a deposit in the sum of US$45M with a finance firm in Europe.
I, as the attorney to late client is the only person that knows about the investment. I have contacted you so I can present you to the finance firm as the next of kin to late client and the beneficiary of the US$45M.
If you are interested in carrying out this viable transaction with me, you are to email me your address and telephone number. I will prepare, sign and email to you a memorandum of understanding (MOU). If you agree with the terms, you sign and email or fax a copy back to me so I can commence the documentation for the transfer.
God bless you.
Mr. Bruno Pietro

Anti-fraud resources: