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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: frida@staff.usd.ac.id
Reply-To: paullockett006@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:02:13 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED!!!

Good day,

My name is Mr. Paul Lockett, I am a senior partner in the firm of Infinity
Consultants "Private Investigators and Security Consultants". We are
conducting a standard process investigation on behalf of "HSBC", the
International Banking conglomerate.

This investigation involves a client who shares the same surname with you
and also the circumstances surrounding investments made by this client at
"HSBC", the Private Banking arm of HSBC. The HSBC Private Banking client
died in testate and nominated no successor in title over the investments
made with the bank. I would respectfully request that you keep the
contents of this mail private and respect the integrity of the information
you come by as a result of this mail.

I contact you independently of our investigation and no one is informed of
this communication. I would like to intimate you with certain facts that I
believe would be of interest to you.

You share similar details to the late fellow; I am prepared to place you
in a position to instruct the firm to release the deposit to you as the
closest surviving relation. Upon receipt of the deposit, I am prepared to
share the money with you, that is, I will simply nominate you as the next
of kin and have them release the deposit to you. We share the proceeds
50/50. I would have gone ahead to ask the funds be released to me,but that
would have drawn a straight line to me and my involvement in claiming the
deposit. But on the other hand, you with the same very name as the
depositor's would easily pass as the beneficiary with right to claim. I
assure you that I could have the
deposit released to you within few days.

I am aware of the consequences of this proposal. I ask that if you find no
interest in this project that you should discard this mail. I ask that you
do not be vindictive and destructive. If my offer is of no appeal to you,
delete this message and forget I ever contacted you. Do not destroy my
career because you do not approve of my proposal.

You may not know this but people like myself who have made tidy sums out
of comparable situations run the whole private banking sector. I am not a
criminal and what I do, I do not find against good conscience, this may be
hard for you to understand, but the dynamics of my industry dictates that
I make this move. Such opportunities only come ones in a lifetime. I
cannot let this chance pass me by, for once, I have found myself in total
control of my destiny. These chances won't pass me by. I ask that you do
not destroy my chance, if you will not work with me let me know and let me
move on with my life but do not destroy me. I am a family man and this is
an opportunity to provide them with new opportunities.

There is a reward for this project and it is a task well worth
undertaking. I have evaluated the risks and the only risk I have here is
from you refusing to work with me. I am the only one who knows of this
situation, good fortune has blessed you with a name that has planted you
into the center of relevance in my life. Lets share the blessing. If you
find yourself able to work with me, contact me through this same email
account.

If you give me positive signals, I will initiate this process towards a
conclusion.

I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to what the
consequences, but I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained
and that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This
is the one truth I have learned from my private banking clients. Do not
betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should plan a
meeting, soon.

Kind regards,
Paul Lockett.
Tel: +44702407959


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