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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Vitti <vittinoop09@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <vittinoop@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 10:09:02 +0000
Subject: Hello Chandler.



Dear Chandler,Michael Vitti, Personal Accounting Officer to a late Local Contractor, Engineer. Steve Chandler with the Rivers State Government. Following the death of my Boss on 23rd October 2005, I’ve been contacted by the contract Payment Office under the Rivers State Government that the balance payment for the executed contract has been approved for payment and I’m therefore advised to present the beneficiary/next of kin for the claim of his contract balance from their bank in charge of contract payment.
At this juncture, I’ve to contact someone, who is related to him and it must be a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin and receive this money into his foreign account. This became necessary as the contract payment office had told me to present the next of kin within a limited time and I’ve been trying to locate my late boss real relatives to no avail. Personally, I contacted you because your names are similar and you might be related. Please, receive this money in your custody while I still make effort to get in touch with the real relatives if you are not one. The similarities in your surnames will make it possible and easy for you to receive the money even if you are not really related.
The problem and urgency is that if the money is not claimed within the specified time as ordered by the Contract Payment Office (CPO) the payment would be canceled and labeled unclaimed contract payment. It will be lost forever. This must be avoided by all means. If aspected, to be presented as the beneficiary/next of kin you will be taking no risks, as I’m the sole administrator and executor of my late boss estate so whomever I present will be seen and accepted as the bona fide beneficiary as the law permits here in my country.
I hope you will help to salvage this fund so that the rightful owners will still get it at the end. I will surely gratify you for your help at the end.Yours Faithfully,Michael Vitti.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam