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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: "Standard Bank" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 05:15:12 +0200
Subject: Account Security Update


Standard Bank
Dear Valued Customer,

Due to Recent Server security upgrades some errors were noticed on your account, as a result you are requested
to update your account information's by following. Reference Below failure to do this might result in irregularity on account activities and day to day banking on your account.


REFERENCE


Thanks for your Compliance.


Regards
Internet banking team.
Inspired. Motivated. Involved.
Copyright Standard Bank. All rights reserved.
Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (Reg. No. 1962/000738/06). Authorised financial services provider. Registered credit provider (NCRCP15).

Disclaimer and confidentiality note:
Everything in this email and any attachments relating to the official business of Standard Bank Group Limited is proprietary to the group.
It is confidential, legally privileged and protected by law. Standard Bank does not own and endorse any other content.
The person addressed in the email is the sole authorised recipient.
Please notify the sender immediately if it has unintentionally reached you and do not read disclose or use the content in any way.

Standard Bank cannot assume that the integrity of this communication has been maintained nor that it is free of errors, virus, interception or interference.

Anti-fraud resources: