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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: "michael williams" <michael.williams39@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 09:02:13 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION

Hello,

My name is michael williams. I trained and work as an
external auditor for the Development Bank of Singapore
(DBS), working as part of a bigger team that covers
the entire Asian region.. I had taken pains to find
your contact through a colleague that is connected
with the Chamber of Commerce

On routine audit check last year, I discovered some
investment accounts that had been dormant for at least
twelve years. All the accounts belong to a single/one
account holder with monies totalling a little above
13.6 million United States Dollars. Now banking
regulation/legislation in Singapore demand that I do
notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time
span of twelve years when dormant accounts of this
type are called in by the Singapore Monetary
Regulatory bodies.

The above set of facts underscores my reason of
writing and proposing to you. My investigations of the
said account reveals that the investor, a Briton had
died in 1992—the exact time the account was last
operated. I can confirm with certainty that the said
investor died interstate and no next –of –kin to his
estate has been found or has come forward all these
years.

I am of the settled conviction that using my insider
leverage, I, working with you can secure the funds in
the account for us instead of allowing it pass as
unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Government of
Singapore. This is especially possible as you bear the
same LAST NAME to the said investor. This exactly is
why I crave your participation and co-operation. I am
seized with all relevant documents (legal and Banking)
that will facilitate our putting you forward as the
claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimately
transfer the money to an account to be nominated by
you.

Of course you shall be handsomely rewarded for your
part in this transaction as the people I am working
with are prepared to allocate a 20% slice of the total
funds for your efforts.

I shall however leave out the finer details of this
transaction till I receive an affirmation of your
desire to participate. Rest assured that I am on top
of the situation all the time and there will be no
risk whatsoever if you elect to come on board.
Needless to say, UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital
importance if we are to successfully reap the immense
benefits of this transaction.

Find above written telephone, fax and email contacts
that you may reach me with. The numbers have been
carefully chosen to ensure that I can be reached at
anytime you choose to call or fax.

I do expect your prompt response.

Truly,

michael williams.

_________________________________________________________________
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