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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: "Charles Vernon" <charlesvernon_6@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2006 22:20:53 +0000
Subject: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.

FROM MR. CHARLES VERNON
DEAR SIR/MADAM

MY NAME IS MR. CHARLES VERNON. I WORK WITH THE
ACCESS BANK PLC
MANAGER, BILL AND EXCHANGE OF THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE
DEPARTMENT. IN THE DISCHARGE OF MY DUTY, I STUMBLED ON
THIS DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT THAT HAS REMAINED DORMANT FOR
SIX MONTHS NOW WITH THIRTY FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($35.5M) IN IT.

ON PERSONAL INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE
ACCOUNT HOLDER DIED IN AUTO CRASH ACCIDENT WITH THE
MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT OF KIN TO
THE AMOUNT, ALL I NEED YOU TO DO IS TO STAND AS THE
NEXT OF KIN TO OUR LATE CUSTOMER SO THAT THESE FUNDS
CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR NOMINATED
BANK ACCOUNT.

ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND OUT THAT: -
A) HE HAS NO OTHER LIVING DECLARED RELATIVE
B) HE HAD DIED INTERSTATE (WITHOUT MAKING A WILL)
C) HE WAS INTO REAL ESTATE VENTURE (REALTOR)

ACCORDINGLY, ALL ATTEMPTS TO TRACE A NEXT OF KIN HAVE
BEEN FRUITLESS. I AM WRITING YOU SO THAT WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO REMIT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT AS THE NEXT OF KIN HENCE THE DEPOSITOR
HAPPENED TO BE A FOREIGNER. ALL DOCUMENTS AND PROVES
TO ENABLE YOU GET THIS FUND WILL BE CAREFULLY WORKED
OUT FROM MY TABLE AND I WILL PERFECT EVERY DOCUMENTS
TO BE IN ACCORDANCE TO THE BANKING LAWS AND GUILD
LINES HENCE YOU
HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT FOR I AM ASSURING YOU A
100% RISK FREE TRANSACTION.

IT IS SIMPLE PROCESS, WHICH WILL TAKE A SHORT WHILE TO
PROCESS. OUTSIDE THIS, THE BANK MANAGEMENT WILL
CONFISCATE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AS UNCLEARED EFFECTS
AND SEND BACK TO THE DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
ACCOUNT.

IF I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL TELL YOU ALL YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT THE MONEY AND THE OPERATIONAL METHOD WE CAN
USE TO AFFECT THE REMITTANCE INTO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR OUR
MUTUAL BENEFIT. ALSO INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME,ADDRESS
AND PHONE NUMBER.

REPLY TO CHARLESVERNON_6@YAHOO.COM

SINCERELY
MR. CHARLES VERNON


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