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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: "Mrs. Maureen Foley" <maureen.54foley@yahoo.ca> (may be fake)
Reply-To: maureenfoley@myway.com
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 18:55:39 +0200
Subject: Private & Confidential

Hello,
My name is Mrs. Maureen Foley. I trained and work as an external auditor for the International Financial Services Ltd for Anglo Irish Bank. Working as part of a bigger team that covers the entire Republic of Ireland region. I have taken pains to find your contact through personal endeavours.

On routine audit check last month, I discovered some investment accounts that has been dormant for the last twelve(12) years. All the accounts belonging to a single holder with monies totalling a little above ($17.1 Million United States Dollars) plus interest. Banking regulation/legislation in Ireland demand that I notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time period of twelve years when dormant accounts of this type are called in by the monetary regulatory bodies. The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and making the following proposal.

My investigations of the said account reveals that the investor died in 1993—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 an unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Irish Government. This is especially possible as you bear the same LAST NAME to the said investor, and can stand as his extended relative. This exactly is why I crave your participation and co-operation.

I have seized 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 any account nominated by you. Of course you shall be handsomely rewarded for your part in this transaction as the people I am working with have agreed to allocate a 30% of the total funds for your efforts, less any expenses.

I shall however leave out the finer details of this transaction till I receive an affirmation of your desire to participate.

Be assured that me and my colleagues are on top of the situation.
There will be no risk involved whatsoever if you agree 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.

To maintain the level of security required to see this transaction come to a successful conclusion, I have intentionally left out the finer details.

To affirm your willingness and cooperation to my proposal, please contact me through telephone, fax or email stating the followings:

(1) Full Name;

(2) Telephone and Fax Number;

(3) Postal Address

(4) Occupation;

(5) Date of Birth;

Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.

Regards,
Mrs. Maureen Foley.

International Financial Services Ltd,
Custom House Plaza,
Block 4, Floor 3, IFSC,
Dublin 1
Republic of Ireland.
Direct office tel: +353 1 4403997
Private fax: +353 1 6335764
Mobile: +353 876294094.
E- mail: maureenfoley@myway.com or maureen.54foley@yahoo.ca.



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