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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: "Watson Charles J. Micheal" <watsonekp@terra.com.mx>
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 21:51:49 -0600
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MR WATSON


Westpac Banking Corporation,
63 St. Mary Axe
London EC3A 8LE
I am sorry for intruding into your privacy,Having obtained your contact from a very reliable source on the internet.
I am Mr.Watson Charles J. Micheal, the Branch Manager, Westpac Banking Corporation London.
On January 6th 2001, one Mr. Claude Brian Best, an American National,a
consultant/contractor with Gardiner & Theobald,a leading firm of project
and cost management consultants, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit,
valued at £9,500,000.00(Nine Million,Five Hundred Thousand Pounds) for
twelve calender months in my Bank Branch.
Upon Maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address
but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we
discovered from his contract employers (Gardiner & Theobald) that Mr.
Claude Brian Best died from an automobile accident. On further
investion, it was discovered that he died without making a WILL and all
attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.
On further investigations, it was discovered that Late Mr. Claude Brian
Best did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paper work here at the Bank.
The total sum, £9,500,000.00 is still in my bank and the interest is
being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one
will ever come forward to claim it.
In accordance with the Federal banking Laws and constitution, at the
expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of
the Government if nobody applies as the next of Kin to claim the funds.
Consequently, I shall present you as a foreign partner to stand in as
the next of kin to late Mr. Claude Brian Best so that you and I can
benefit from the fruits of this old man's labour.
Upon acceptance of this proposal, I shall send to you the Westpac
Banking Corporation "Next of Kin Payment Application Form" as well as
detailed information on how this deal would be transacted.
We shall employ the services of a solicitor for the drafting of the LAST
WILL & TESTAMENT of Late Mr. Claude Brian Best and to obtain all other
relevant papers in your name for the necessary documentations for
payment approval in my bank headquarters in your favour.
The money will be shared in the ratio:
Sixty percent for me, thirty five percent for you and five percent for
any arising contigencies during the course of this transaction.
I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law as I will use my position as
the Bank's Branch Manager to secure approvals and guarantee the
successful execution of this transaction.
Please be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required. If this
interests you, please reply me immediately via the private email address
below and please include your private telephone number for voice contact
and fax number so I can provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will acquaint you with the procedures of this transaction.
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks.
Best regards,

Watson Charles J. Micheal
wat_cjm@yahoo.co.uk

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