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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From:
Date:
Subject: Good day


Good day,
I am Edward Mcname of the Independent Committee of Eminent
Persons (ICEP), I am a British. I have brought to you what I believe
you might not be aware of and please for the best interest of the both
of us, treat as secret and urgent.
ICEP is charged with the responsibility of finding bank accounts in
Switzerland belonging
to non-Swiss indigenes, which have remained dormant since World War II.
However, since July of 1997, the Swiss Banker's Association published a
list of dormant accounts and security deposits by non-Swiss citizens in
Asia Europe and Africa. These accounts/security deposits had been
dormant since the end of World War II (May 9, 1945) and some since
1990. Most belonged to Holocaust victims and some to corrupt Africa
leaders. Website:www.swissbankclaims.com
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9902/09/germany.holocaust
I am in possession of a $20million dollar deposit, which has been
unclaimed and dormant, the
depositor is now dead and has no next of kin. I want to know if you
will assist me to safeguard
this fund, I will give you the full details and procedure when I
receive your reply.
Sincerely
Edward Mcnamee.


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