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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: "george downing" <diplomats@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 15:38:01 +0100
Subject: IN CONFIDENCE

Dear Partner To Be,

Do you have an offshore account in united kingdom?, Are you responsible
and worthy enough to hold on to Multi million dollar assests? Do you
believe in confidential business strategy and abide to the rules of white
collar deals?, if the answer to this questions are Yes, then get back to me
with your contact information in your earliest convenience.

My name is Mr George Downing, I am among the financial Service
Authority Agent attach to Her Majesty Treasury, designated by The Chancellor
of
Exchequer Minister of Parliament, Gordon Brown to redirect dormant estate to
the
hands of charity, There is a particular dormant account which no one from
my custodia has noticed, my intention is to redirect this funds into a
foreigners
offshore account in the uk, I cannot entrust such magnitude of deal into the

hands of my friends or relative for future references, i can move this
dormant
estate for working hours from the time you send me your offshore account
details in the uk.

You must send in copies of your passport/driving licence to clear any
doubt of personality before i move this estate into your uk offshore
account,
Never disclose any information relating to this information to any third
party, be it your friends, relatives, councellor, partners and greatest
companions, because this can ruin our future entitlement based on my
position in
the UK financial sector, Just corporate with me and join me in claiming my
reward.

Your entitlement will be 40% of the total estate.

Kind Regards,

George Downing (FSA Agent).

Dear Partner To Be,

Do you have an offshore account in united kingdom?, Are you responsible
and worthy enough to hold on to Multi million dollar assests? Do you
believe in confidential business strategy and abide to the rules of white
collar deals?, if the answer to this questions are Yes, then get back to me
with your contact information in your earliest convenience.

My name is Mr George Downing, I am among the financial Service
Authority Agent attach to Her Majesty Treasury, designated by The Chancellor
of
Exchequer Minister of Parliament, Gordon Brown to redirect dormant estate to
the
hands of charity, There is a particular dormant account which no one from
my custodia has noticed, my intention is to redirect this funds into a
foreigners
offshore account in the uk, I cannot entrust such magnitude of deal into the

hands of my friends or relative for future references, i can move this
dormant
estate for working hours from the time you send me your offshore account
details in the uk.

You must send in copies of your passport/driving licence to clear any
doubt of personality before i move this estate into your uk offshore
account,
Never disclose any information relating to this information to any third
party, be it your friends, relatives, councellor, partners and greatest
companions, because this can ruin our future entitlement based on my
position in
the UK financial sector, Just corporate with me and join me in claiming my
reward.

Your entitlement will be 40% of the total estate.

Kind Regards,

George Downing (FSA Agent).




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