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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: MARTIN HARRIS
Reply-To: <mail2martinharris@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2015 00:26:54 +0530
Subject: I HAVE DECIDED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU BY SOLICITING YOUR ASSISTANCE!!!

Dear Friend.
I humbly request your consent and co-operation so as I can present you as an heir/next-of-kin of a deceased account proceeds value 4.5million great British pounds (Four million five hundred thousand great British pounds only)
I am writing this letter in confidence believing that it is the wish of God to meet with you since we have not met before, I got your E-mail address from AOL- Local Yellow Page with regard to your profile, after searching all the job site, Hindu, matrimony and religious site looking for a trust worthy person and I decided to contact you.
I am Dr. Martin Harris of Auditing and accounting section staff in Reserve Bank of India, during my investigation and auditing I came across many inactive accounts but there is a particular account that has not been noticed by the previous/past auditors the account has been dormant without any claim of the fund. I write to solicit for support and assistance from you to carry out this deal in my bank that will benefit us.
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/find-whereabouts-of-unclaimed-deposit-holders-rbi-tells-banks/909041
Lying in one of the many inactive accounts is the sum of 4.5million great British pounds (Four million five hundred thousand great British pounds only) belonging to a foreign customer (Mr.Chowalert Jitjamnong) who was a gas consultant here in India, he happened to be deceased during a vacation trip with his wife (Mrs .Siriphut Jitjamnong) and the only child (Chawit Jitjamnong) on board One-Two-Go Orient-Thai Airlines flight OG269 Phuket Airport plane crash of Monday, 17th September 2007 from Bangkok to Phuket.
Info of this crash was on the news which we have tried to notify his relatives but to no avail, see link below for more detailed information:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/sep/17/travelnews.thailand

Unfortunately, he has no family member in India or Over-sea who are aware of the existence of the funds, at this juncture, I have decided to do business with you by soliciting your assistance in applying as the next of kin to the bank then the money will be released to you, as I do not want the money to go into the bank treasury as an unclaimed bill, because the banking laws and guidelines stipulates that if such money(S) remains unclaimed for a period of Ten years(10yrs),the money will be moved into the bank treasury as an unclaimed bill.
My request and interest for a next of kin is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and he deposited the money without telling anybody, more importantly I will be responsible for approving application from a next of kin as part of my duty and recommendations but I will not let anybody know about the secret deal between us. 50% of the money will be my share and 40% will be your share for your role, partner and assistance to actualize this deal, while 10% will be for payment of expenses you made during and after the deal/transfer into your account thereafter you will transfer my share to my account once the money hits your account for disbursement according to the percentage indicated.
To affect the immediate transfer of the fund to your account as agreed, you must apply first to the bank as the next of kin to the deceased, and then we will follow up all formalities for the transaction.
To enable me fix it up in the deceased customer file immediately. It is 100% risk free because it will be secret.
Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you, the text of application you are to send to the bank, and further clarify you in other issues as to effect this business.
Waiting to hear from you urgently
Best Regards
Dr. Martin Harris

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