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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MARIFE CAREON" <marifecareon@equitablepcibankofphilippines.com>
Reply-To: mcareon@excite.com
Date: Sat, 02 Jul 2005 12:10:47 +0000
Subject: PLEASE READ AND RESPOND ASAP!!!

MRS MARIFE CAREON
CREDIT ACCOUNTS OFFICER
HEAD OFFICE EQUITABLE PCI BANK TWR.
MKT AVENUE.COR.H.V DELA COSTA STR
PHILIPPPINES .
Good Day,
Let me start by introducing myself,I am MRS MARIFE CAREON,CREDIT ACCOUNTS
OFFICER EQUITABLE PCI BANK.
I am writing you this letter based on the latest development at my bank,
which I will like to bring to your personal edification. I am writing you
this letter with so much joy and excitement even though my heart goes out to
the very powerful and distinguished gentleman who I was fortunate to have
worked for and extremely privileged to have known for numerous years. I am a
top official in charge of client accounts in EQUITABLE PCI BANK.
inside the philippines.
In 2001, my client was going through a horrendous divorce in the
United States Of America and was on the verge of losing most of his estate
to his vicious and diabolical wife. As a result of this alarming
predicament, my client came to me with a very brilliant idea. He transferred
some funds, ten million two hundred thousand dollars(usd10.2m) to a fixed
deposit account in my bank under an alias which only the two of us knew
about as the confidentiality of the matter was necessary for his protection.
Due to his untimely death in early 2002, the funds have been sitting in the
account ever since and will continue to do so perpetually unless we do
something about it. This is where you come in.I located you through an
agency that helps seek people by their email.my client did not declare any
next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank
deposit.Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I would like you
as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to our client so that you will be
able to receive his funds.
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we can
come out successful. I have contacted an attorney that will prepare the
necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to my client.All
that is required from you at
this stage is for you to provide me with your Full Names and Address so that
the attorney can commence his job.After you have been made the next of kin,
the attorney will also file in for claims on your behalf and secure the
necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for the move of the
funds to an account that will be provided by you.
There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going adopt a
legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary
documents.The allocation of our money will be as follows: 20%(US$2.02M) to
you for your part in this, 75% for me and my partners and 5% for any
unforeseeable expenses we may incur. I think this is extremely fair, as you
have nothing to lose but just a little time, while on the other hand I am
staking my flawless reputation among other things. And besides $2.02 million
is no pocket change. Once you are approved, the entire transaction should
take no longer than twelve business days after which we will go about our
daily business, but just millions of dollars richer.
As you can see this is easier than taking candy from a baby but
mind you, trust is something that is developed over time and that is
something that we do not have. So I have to let you know that it will highly
unfeasible to try to run away with the money because even though only you
can transfer money in and out of your account, the transfer can only be
authorized by my department of which i happen to be thehead.The money will
be transfered from my bank to an account you will provide. So please, there
should be no room for greed because ten million two hundred thousand dollars
can quench even the most insatiable desire for the almighty dollar.
Again, i will be in charge of everything else. I will assume all
responsibilities for this endeavor so you don’t have to worry about any
legal ramifications, just what you will do with all that money.
If interested,I would want you to send your reply to my private mail box:
mcareon@excite.com
Your urgent response is highly anticipated so please email me for
more details on this transaction as soon as possible.
This should be kept very secret and confidential… I believe you know.
kind Regards
Mrs. Marife Careon esq.


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