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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: Paul Silas <paul_silas53@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 17:02:39 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU!!! FROM PAUL SILAS


Greetings,
My name is Paul Silas, an executive member of Independent Committee of Eminent Persons (ICEP), Switzerland. ICEP is in-charge with the responsibility of finding bank accounts in Switzerland belonging to non-Swiss indigenes, which have remained dormant since World War II.
It may interest you to know that In January 13 2005, the Swiss Banker's Association (SBA) published a list of dormant accounts originally opened by non-Swiss citizens. These accounts had been dormant since the end of World War II (May 9, 1945). Most belonged to Holocaust victims.
The continuing efforts of the Independent Committee of Eminent Persons (ICEP) have since resulted in the discovery of additional dormant accounts -2700 in july, 2005.
The published lists contain all types of dormant accounts, including interest-bearing savings accounts, securities accounts, safe deposit boxes, custody accounts, and non-interest-bearing transaction accounts. Numbered accounts are also included. Interest is paid on accounts that were interest bearing when established.
The Claims Resolution Tribunal (CRT) handles processing of all claims on accounts due to non-Swiss citizens. A dormant account of NEUMANN ECKSTEIN with a credit balance of $12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars Only) plus accumulated interest was discovered by me. The beneficiary was murdered during the holocaust era, leaving no WILL and no possible records for trace of heirs. The Claims Resolution Tribunal has been mandated to report all unprocessed claims for permanent closure of accounts and transfer of existing credit balance into the treasury of Switzerland government as provided by the law for management of assets of deceased beneficiaries who died intestate (leaving NO Will).
Many people who have full records of their relatives bank details have successfully claimed their inheritance and paid in full.
Being a top executive at ICEP, I have all secret details and necessary information/contacts for claim of the said inheritance with no encumberance.
If you can handle this transaction for our joint benefit, please get back to me so that I can give you more details on this matter, as what is required now is to register you as the Benefactor so that the fund will be transfered into your designated bank account.
Due to the sensitive nature of my job, I need you to ASSIST process the claim as the beneficiary. All that is required is for you to provide me your details for processing of the necessary legal, and administrative claim documents for release of the inheritance claim to you through a bank where the fund is currently deposited.
NOTE: My reason for contacting you in this confidential transaction is due to the fact that,as Top Civil Servant working under Government Establishment/Corporation,we are not allowed to operate foreign account as it is against the new Government Code of Conduct Bureau and based on this difficult situation, I have no other option than to ask for your Assistance in transfering this fund out.
The Holocaust Claims Processing Office has allocated the money for payment to the beneficiary awaiting submission of valid claims for necessary disbursement. I find myself priviledged to have this information and this is a great opportunity for a life time of success.
NOTE:Your business status does not matter in this transaction,what matters is your ability to handle the amount of this magnitude. I want you to understand that this transaction must be kept in utmost confidentiality and secrecy because of my position here.
We will discuss the sharing ratio/percentage when we talk.
Sincerely yours,
Paul Silas


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