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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. Charles Apiah." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.charles.apiah@neu.com.cn>
Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 01:07:44 -0000
Subject: Good day,

Good day,

I am contacting you for an opportunity in my office that will be of mutual benefit for both of us. This is the brief information about what i am talking about. On January 11th 2000, a German Society photographer, late Mr. Christian Goetz, deposited US$2,000,000 (Two Million United States Dollars)under our portfolio management department for a period of Six (6) years, and the deposit matured on the 18th of February 2006 with over 100% growth which amounted to a total of US$4,520,000(Four Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand United
States Dollars).

Upon maturity, a routine notification was sent to his forwarding address all to no avail. Several attempts were made to contact him but without responses. After a month, another reminder was sent to him from my desk and evidently I discovered that Mr. Christian Goetz died in the plane crash of Air France Concorde flight 4590 which crashed on July 25th 2000. On further indent investigation, I discovered that he died with his wife, as all efforts to trace members of his neither family nor relatives proved futile.You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site. Http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Mr. Christian Goetz, has long passed away and since his death none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to lay claims for this money as the heir. He died without identifying with anybody about these funds, which has since matured and the roll-over on the funds also expired. This sum of US$4,520,000 (Four Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) is still in my possession in my Bank lifeless and unnoticed because there will never be a claim on the funds. All material, immaterial documents relating to the funds is also in my possession.

Against this backdrop, I am proposing to you to stand in as the next of kin to Late Mr. Christian Goetz. The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that at the expiration of Ten(10) years such funds will be transferred into banking treasury as unclaimed funds. The money will be approved into your account and subsequently, we shall share in the ratio: 55% for me and 40% for you as gratification for assistance rendered. I will visit your country for the disbursement, according to the percentages indicated above once this money gets into your account.

I humbly crave your indulgence in portraying sincerity towards this matter, as trust stands to be our watchword in this transaction. My assurance is that your role is risk free to accord this transaction the legality it deserves as with all modalities put in place we are certain in actualizing a hitch free transfer of the funds without any impediments. My position with my bank already guarantees the swift execution of this project. I will discuss much in details when I do receive your response. Kindly signify your willingness to assist by sending me an e-mail for further procedures relating to this transaction.

Please respond to my private email (mr.charles.apiah@neu.com.cn)


Yours faithfully
Mr. Charles Apiah.

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