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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: "Dr. Green Michael" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gm165070@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2017 16:36:33 -0000
Subject: 168.121.55.71 gerencia

ROM COUTTS & CO Private Banking
440 Strand, London, WC2R 0QS
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 702 401 8633
Tel: +44 703 199 0666

Dear Friend,

Please accept my apologies if this request does not meet your personal ethics as it is not intended to cause you any embarrassment in what ever form. I got your contact email address from the internet directory and decided to contact you for this transaction that is based on trust and your understanding. I have an interesting business proposal for you that will be of immense benefit to both of us.

Although this may be hard for you to believe because i know that there is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust in your heart in respect to this email as this might sound strange to you and coupled with the fact that so many individuals have taken possession of the Internet to facilitate their nefarious deeds, thereby making it extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate persons to get attention and recognition. Please grant me the benefit of doubt and hear me out.

My name is Dr.Green Michael, Senior Portfolio Manager Wealth and Investment Management Private Banking COUTTS & CO Bank here in London. I discovered an unclaimed fund to the tune of GBP 14,320,000.00 (Fourteen Million Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand British Pounds) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers late Dr. Erin Jacobson, an American citizen who unfortunately lost his life and his entire family in Montana plane crash on March 23, 2009, on their way to a group ski vacation.The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of where you live, particularly due to the sensitivity of this transaction and the confidentiality herein.

Now our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come up for the claim but nobody has done that. I personally tried to locate any member of his family but have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 7 years now, i have also checked the deposit documents and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin on the deposit.

Now the Management of our bank Has instructed me in my official capacity to look for the next of kin or they will convert the funds into the state coffers as unclaimed funds; and if this happens the funds will be wasted. However, since the ethics of my engagement does not permit me to lay claim to the funds I thought it would be ideal to present a foreigner to stand as next of kin.

The reason I am contacting you to seek your consent to present you as a next of kin so that the funds will be release to you, then we share it 50% for me and 50% for you for our mutual benefit. I have to settle for 50/50 because I am not a greedy person If you accept I will employed the service of an Attorney who will secure all necessary legal documents that could be used to back up this claim.

All the attorney need to do is to fill in your names to the documents and legalize it in the Court here to prove you as the legitimate next of kin to the late depositor Dr. Erin Jacobson then the bank will release the funds to you as the rightful beneficiary.

This is a fair deal without any risk attached either on your part or on my part as long as we comply with the laws governing the claiming of funds in our establishment. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us swing into action and secure the funds with my position in the bank as a director, I will do every thing possible to protect your interest and to make sure everything workout successfully.

If you are interested in this deal, kindly send me your complete information, your full names and address, Your Private telephone (Cell phone), any means of identification and your bank details that funds would be transfered (preferrably company's account if you have). to enable the attorney start processing the necessary paperwork that would facilitate the release of the funds to you.

Best regards,

Dr. Green Michael
Senior Portfolio Manager
Wealth and investment management


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