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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 Federico Tugnoli <ftugnoli9@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:07:39 -0700
Subject: PRIVATE MASSAGE

Good Day,

Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via
e-mail Instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail.

This is due to the urgency and importance of The information. I humbly crave
your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose devoid of
any doubt in your mind because This project is based on Trust, Confidentiality
and Sincerity of purpose in order to have an Acceptable meeting of the minds.
Although we never met before, but I have every reason to believe That you are a
highly respected personality, considering the fact That I got your E- mail
address through the Internet, my online Network, while searching for a reliable
and reputable person to Handle this transaction.

I am a senior manager accounts/audit in UNIPOL MERCHANT BANCA (MERCHANT BANK)
here in Italy. I am Writing following an opportunity in my office that will be
of Immense benefit to both of us. In my department we discovered an Abandoned
sum of 10.5 million Euros(Ten million five hundred Thousand Euros Only) in an
account that belongs to one of our Foreign customers who Unfortunately lost his
life on his way to the Airport. Since we got information about his death,
we have been expecting His next of kin or relatives to come over and claim
his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as Next
of kin or relation to the Deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.

Unfortunately I discovered that his supposed next of kin being his Only
daughter and wife died along with him in the auto crash leaving nobody with the
knowledge of this fund behind for claim. It is Therefore upon this discovery that
I and his account manager now decided to make business with you and release The money
to you as the next of kin or beneficiary of the funds for safety keeping and
subsequent disbursement since nobody is Coming for it and we don't want
this money to go back into Government treasury as unclaimed bill.

The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that such money remained after
seven years the money will be transferred into Banking treasury as unclaimed
funds. We agreed that 35% of this money would be for you as Foreign partner,
while the balance will be for my colleagues and I. I will visit your country for
the disbursement according to The percentages indicated above once this money
gets into your Account. Please be honest to me.

To commence this transaction, we require you to immediately Indicate your
interest by a return e-mail and enclose the Following information:

1. Full name
2: Your private telephone and Fax numbers.
3. Occupations and Nationality.
4. Date Of Birth
5,Present Location

Note: this transaction is confidential and risk free. As soon as you receive
this mail contact me through my private E-mail address ftugnoli9@gmail.com
Please note that all the necessary arrangement for the smooth release of these
funds to you will been finalized as soon as you indicate your role in this
transaction. We will discuss much in details when I receive your response and
also we are not interested in your money, because I and my partner is not asking
to send any money to us, all we are interested is to make sure that this deal is
carried our carefully.


Best Regards
Federico Tugnoli

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