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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: "Michael Reed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mredm6980@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 May 2022 10:09:41 -0700
Subject: Re: please get back to me

Good day
I am sorry to intrude into your private and peaceful life, all the same. My name is Mr. Michael Reed I am a private Attorney to Late Andreas Schranner (a German property magnate)  ; I contacted you to work together with me in claiming my late client estate. Unfortunately, he died without a registered Next of Kin and as such the funds now have an open beneficiary status.
 
You could be made the beneficiary since he did not write his WILL before his untimely death. as his attorney I have the official right to introduce you his beneficiary, as no other person from his family is alive and you can visit the site for more news about his death http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
 
If you are interested in working with me, please get back to me as quickly as possible so that I will give you the details of what we are to do.
\
I wait for your prompt response so that I can give you more briefing on what you need to do and how to do it.
 
Thanks for your cooperation.
Best regards,
Mr. Michael Reed
 

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