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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: "BANK OF SCOTLAND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT" <raysmithscot4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ray_smithscot2003@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 18:47:52 +0700
Subject: ATTENTION MY DEAR FRIEND

From the Desk of: The Public Relations Officer,  
Bank of Scotland House,
Prospect Hill, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1AT
United Kingdom
Email: ray_smithscot2003@yahoo.com
 
ATTN. THE PRESIDENT/CEO
 
Dear Friend,
 
How is the condition of health together with those of your family and others over there? I hope you all are well and healthy. Please I know that this message will come to you as a surprise since we dont know each other. But for the purpose of introduction, I am Mr. Ray Smith, a Public Relations Officer at the Bank of Scotland International Isle of Man, United Kingdom. There is an account opened in this bank in 1980 and since 1991 nobody has operated this account. After going through some old records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing.
The owner of the account was Engnr. Roland Carpenter, a pioneer member of Strabag ConstructionCompany, who died on the 9th of February 1996. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it. The account has no other Beneficiary, and my investigations proved to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account. And the amount involved is US$3.1M (Three Million, One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). This account is now due for Next of Kin Claim, and this is the reason I have contacted you, to seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the late Engnr. Carpenter so that the US$3.1 Million can be credited to your favour.
I know that this message will come to you as a surprise, as we didnt know each other before, but you should not be bothered about anything, for I shall ensure that all the necessary paperwork are put in place to protect you from any breach of the law. Please reply urgently so that I will inform you on the next step to take immediately. Send alsoyour private telephone and fax numbers, including the full details of the account to be used for the transfer of the money to your bank account.  And I will fly to meet you in your country, once the funds enter your bank account, for withdrawal and sharing and other investments. I need your full co-operation to make this work smoothly because our bank is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner, who has correct information on this account, which I will provide you later. 
If you are capable and willing to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefit, please do not hesitate to let me know immediately.  Because this opportunity may never come again in my lifetime, I need a very truthful person in this business, and I don't want to make mistakes. I need your strong assurances and trust. With my position now at the bank, I can influence the transfer of thismoney to any foreigner's reliable account, which you can provide with the assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing. 
I will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money, leaving no trace of the money to any place.  On the conclusion of this business, you will be given 25% of the total amount, 70% will be for me, and while 5% will be for any expenses both parties may have incurred during the process of this transaction.
 
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as you have received this e-mail.
NOTE: PLEASE REPLY TO THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS OR YOU MAY PHONE ME DIRECTLY.
 
Best Regards,
Mr. Ray Smith
Public Relations Officer (SectionalHead)
Bank of Scotland International, Isle of Man, UK



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