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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. William Farrington" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2018 05:42:54 -0700
Subject: URGENT

 
ATTENTION: Account Holder,
 
Dear Sir/ Madam
 
Be informed that in accordance to our operational guidelines as set forth by the Financial Regulatory Authorities, we have hereby been mandated to inform you that a final deadline for your claim to your due funds has elapsed Furtherance to the above,
we have been mandated to inform you by  30th Day of  September 2018 your due funds/inheritance which is still in our care as anything after that date would result to the final closure of your payment file and also declare the funds as unclaimed inheritance benefit.
The implication of this action is that you will never have access to these funds again ever in your lifetime.
Your reply to this e-mail is very important and from the instruction you were ask to neither make payment in SEVEN (7) working days or forget about your inheritance with our bank, but I will advise you that this is a life changing money see what you can do in this regards for I am talking to you right now as a brother If after the above mentioned days and we do not hear from you it will be assumed that you do not wish to claim your inheritance money, thereby giving us the right to disburse of your inheritance for our yearly charity programmed.
This action is based on the action treaty we signed with UNICEF whereby we donate unclaimed inheritance funds to charity.
Please, you are advice to print out the attached form, sign it and send it back to us as an attachment or fax.
Fill the correct details please.
DISBURSEMENT FORM FOR DISCLAIMER ONLY. FILL IN BLOCK LETTERS.
FULL NAMES:________________________________
ACCOUNT NUMBER:______________
AMOUNT:_________________________________________
YOUR REASONS FOR DISCLAIMING THE
FUNDS____________________________________________
YOUR ACCOUNT OFFICER:_______________
DECLARATION: I __________________________ HEREBY
DECLARE THAT I DO NOT WISH TO CLAIM MY INHERITANCE/ESTATES AND WILL LOOSE THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR RECLAIMS, MY INHERITANCE  MONEY CAN BE RELEASED OR GIVEN TO THE CHARITY HOMES FOR THIS YEARS CHARITY DONATIONS AS I DO NOT WISH TO CLAIM MY INHERITANCE ,
I THEREFORE WILL NOT TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION IF MY INHERITANCE IS GIVEN OUT TO THE CHARITY HOMES.
DATE: _______________________
SIGNATURE: ______________ This above form stands as an agreement between you and the bank(Credit Suisse Private Bank) that you have agreed to close your account/payment file and will not go extra mile if your funds are been given out for some reasons. If you are still willing to claim your funds then please, contact us telling us what is happening and what you are going to do to claim your inheritance. I wish you
the best in making your choice.
Sincerely,
Mr. William Farrington
 

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