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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Steven Percival" <banker_stev@msn.com>
Reply-To: steven_per@ny.com
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:50:48 +0000
Subject: HSBC BANK (UK) UNCLAIMED DEPOSIT

Mr. Steven Percival
Vice President, Custody and Clearing
HSBC Bank plc
8 Canada Square, Level 24
London E14 5HQ
Direct Line: +44 704 011 3357 ( Private)
Direct Fax: +44 207 681 1190 ( Private)

Dear Partner,

Through some discreet search from my local chambers of commerce, you and
your organization were revealed as being quite astute in Entrepreneurship.
One has no doubt in your ability to handle an international business of
considerable TRUST, which may form the bedrock of an extensive business
partnership in the future.

PROPOSITION:

Presently in my bank here in the United Kingdom we have an estate,
which has remained unclaimed since 1999. And the estate will be converted to
UNCLAIMED DEPOSIT and therefore forfeited if nobody comes forward to lay
claim to the deposit before the end of this financial quarter, as is the
practice and also indicated in the EU banking guidelines.

It may interest you to know that we have secured from the probate registry
of the Supreme Court an order of mandamus to locate and transfer the rights
and privileges of the Estate to any of the account's beneficiaries. This is
why I am contacting you.

We now seek your understanding to have you stand as the
Beneficiary/Next of Kin to the deceased Do not be bothered as we will
carefully and legally work out all necessary documents in your favor as the
new Beneficiary/Next-of-Kin to the Estate.

I want to count on you as a person of respect and honest disposition and
hope that you will handle this transaction with all maturity and
confidentiality it deserves.

In order to get the process started, I would require that you contact me
immediately by private email address:

Email: steven_per@ny.com

or Telephone/Fax numbers as given above with all necessary contact
information of yourself.

I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint
me.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Steven Percival

NOTE: If however, you are not disposed to assist, kindly delete/destroy this
email in view of the confidentiality of the proposed transaction and
interest of personalities involved.



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