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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: "TOM DE SWAAN" <tomdeswaan16@msn.com>
Reply-To: tomdeswaan76@walla.com
Date: Sun, 02 Oct 2005 14:21:54 +0000
Subject: TRUSTING YOU SINCERELY

FROM THE DESK OF TOM DE SWAAN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS.
PRIVATE EMAIL: tomdeswaan7_6@walla.com

Attention

RE: YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED IN ACTUALIZING THIS GOAL


Let me start by introducing myself to you, I am Tom De Swaan, Chief
Financial Officer, ABN AMRO BANK. I saw your contact during my private
search in the internet and I want to believe that you will be very honest,
committed and capable of assisting in this business venture.

Firstly, let me explain the source of this funds and what you are expected
to do. A foreigner LATE DR. GERALD A. SOFFEN was an astronomer and had a
functional ccount with the ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS until his death some
years ago. The deceased Late Gerald A. Soffen banked with us and had a
closing balance as at 22nd November 2000 worth € 24,500,000.00 (Twenty Four
Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros). My bank now expects a next-of-kin to
claim the funds as the beneficiary. Efforts have been made by ABN AMRO BANK
to get in touch with the Late Gerald A. Soffen’s Family or relative but to
no avail.

Based on the perceived possibility of not being able to locate Late Gerald
A. Soffen’s relatives, the management under the influence of our chairman
and the board of directors are making arrangements for the funds to be
declared unclaimed and channeled to an unknown account. It is based on this
that I have contacted you to stand as the next-of-kin of Late Gerald A.
Soffen so that the funds, will be released and paid into your account as the
beneficiary/next-of-kin to the deceased.

All documents to enable you get the funds have been carefully worked out as
I have secured documents from the different offices concerned for the smooth
transfer of the fund to your nominated account. It has been agreed that you
will be compensated with 30% of the remitted Funds, while I keep 60% as my
share and 10% is been set aside for both local and international expenses
that might be incurred in actualizing this transaction.

If this proposal satisfies you, please reach me either by mail:
tomdeswaan7_6@walla.com or phone: +31 64 921 4989, for more clarification
about how this will be done.

NB: Reply me using my private mail address: tomdeswaan7_6@walla.com

Yours faithfully,

TOM DE SWAAN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS


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