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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: "Trevor R. Hart" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <trh@mfnltd.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2016 20:46:48 +0100
Subject: Let Me Know

Hello;
 
I am contacting you concerning an investment placed under our management 7 years ago. I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail. I contact you independently of our investigation and emphasis the reason of this communication. I would like to intimate you with certain facts that I believe would be of interest to you.
 
If you are familiar with investment deposit affairs, those who patronize it services usually prefer anonymity, but also some levels of detachment from conventional processes. Mr. Andreas H. Boulos came to us to engage in business discussions with our private banking division. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio which he wished to have us turn over (invest) on his behalf. I was the officer assigned to his case, I made numerous suggestions in line with my duties as the de-facto global head of the Offshore banking sector, especially given the volume of funds he wished to put into our management. We met on numerous occasions prior to any investments being placed. I encouraged him to consider various growth funds with prime ratings. The favored route in my advice to customers is to start by assessing data on 6000 traditional stocks and bond managers and 2000 managers of alternative investments popularly known as hedge Funds. Based on my advice, we spun the money ar
 
A year later, he asked that the money be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash payments in Dubai. He directed that I liquidate the funds and had it deposited with a firm in Dubai. I informed him that our company would have to make special arrangements to have this done and in order not to circumvent due process, our company would have to make a 2.5 % deduction from the funds to cater for banking and statutory charges. He complained about the charges but later came around when I explained to him the complexities of the task he was asking of us, he was more worried about the heavy taxation the European Union might impose and also to avoid dual taxation from European member countries. Cash movement across borders has become especially strict since the incidents of 9/11. I had almost started the process of liquidating the funds as directed, but getting across to him became a problem. This was an astounding position as far as I was concerned i
 
I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct them to release the deposit to you as the closest surviving relation. I will be behind the scene to guide you on how to apply for the funds. Upon receipt of the deposit, I am prepared to share the money with you as the beneficiary that is: I will simply nominate you as the next of kin and have them release the deposit to you. You will get 30% of $15,500,000.00 (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) while I take 70%. 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. I assure you that I could have the deposit released to you within a few days not later than 10 business days.
We can fine-tune this based on our interactions. I am aware of the consequences of this proposal. I ask that if you find no interest in this project that you should reconsider your position. I ask that you do not be too hasty to draw up conclusions as I have put in a lot of effort into this and your role will be only that of a benefactor. You may not know this but people like myself who have made tiny sums out of comparable situations run the whole investment funds sector and in my profession this is not an uncommon practice as one might think 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 way once in a lifetime. We should not let this chance pass us by, for once I find myself in total control of my destiny. 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 risks on your side is barely minimal because hundreds of claims are filed everyday at the claims and deposits departments so it's not an unusual practice that may raise eye-brows I am the only one who knows of this situation, good fortune has blessed you with my contact to you that has planted you into the center of relevance in my life. Let’s share the blessings.
 
I do not particularly know you so I would wait on your response to judge your level of transparency and honesty. Need not think of you disappearing after the money get into your coffers. With a level of understanding between us, I will start the initiation of this process towards a conclusion. I do not want you contacting me through my official phone lines nor do I want you contacting me through my official email account as this transaction will be done under the clock of my employer. Contact will be through my personal mobile phone and emails. Same could apply to you if you wish. My official lines are not secure lines as they are periodically monitored to assess our level of customer care in line with our Total Quality Management Policy. A very dear friend of mine and university classmate Mr. Michael Sodden of Bank of Ireland had to quit his job when unethical material was found on him.
 
Please observe this instruction religiously. Please again, note I am a family man, I have wife and children. I send you this mail not without a measure of doubt 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 learnt from my private banking clients.
 
Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should plan a meeting soon. When responding, kindly include your direct mobile number so that I can call you for a few briefings.
 
Looking forward to hear from you at the earliest.
 
Sincerely,
 
Trevor Hart
 

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