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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: Travis Ellison <travisellison234@gmail.com>
Reply-To: travisellison765@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2022 08:42:53 -0700
Subject: Attn:

Attn:

I am Mr. Travis Ellison, a seasoned banker with TD Bank here in the
States and I wish to request for your assistance in a deal that
involves $15.2M (Fifteen million, Two Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) with our Bank. This deal by virtue of its nature must be
utterly confidential and top secret. Though I know that a transaction
of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, I am
assuring you that this will be done under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect both of us from any breach of the law. I came to
know you in my private search for a reliable and reputable Business
Person/individual that can handle this confidential deal with me,
which required maximum confidence and trust from both sides.

MY PROPOSITION;

I am an account officer to one of the dormant accounts with our bank
that belong to one of our deceased customers Mr. Paul Louis Halley, a
French citizen rich who was into several businesses here in the States
before his death along with his wife in an air crash. Before their
untimely death our customer deposited the Sum of $15.2M (Fifteen
million, Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with our bank
here in the States.

This website will give you a comprehensive picture of what I am
talking about http://newswww.bbc.net.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/4537663.stm).
During the bank audit exercise, it was discovered that a lot of
accounts have been dormant as an unclaimed credit balance, hence our
management decided during the current re-capitalization in our banking
sector, to phase out all accounts that have been dormant. As the
account officer to the late Mr. Paul Louis Halley, I have made several
inquiries to his high commission to locate my client's extended
relatives, but all my efforts proved abortive, I then decided to trace
his relatives or family members over the internet, and yet all effort
became abortive. However, I found you as my instinct convinced me that
you will be a trustworthy and honest business partner and I decided to
contact you to assist me in repatriating my late client's deposit
before it got confiscated or declared unserviceable by our bank, TD
Bank here in the States.

I therefore wish to request for your assistance and permission to
present you as the appointed next of kin to Mr. Paul Louis Halley so
that the $15.2M (Fifteen million, Two Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) can be released and paid into your account as the
beneficiary. Be informed that this transaction is risk free otherwise
I will not contact you because it is against our bank policy. Please
get in touch with me immediately if you are interested to assist me by
furnishing me with the following information; the call-up capital is
significant. After receiving your thoughts and consideration, further
information will be provided to you.

1. Your full names
2. Your full address
3. Direct Telephone numbers


Yours Sincerely,
Mr Travis Ellison

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