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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: "Stephen powell " <info@maryparker.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:37:22 +0200
Subject: Good Day



Good Day To You,

Though i have not considered this medium to be the best manner to have
approached you on this issue being that the Internet has been greatly
abused over the recent years and is very unsecured for in formations of
vital importance. I have decided to take the chance seeing that no other
means could have been faster and more efficient than the E-mail.

I am Stephen .H.Powell, Staff of Standard Life trust Bank Limited.I am
contacting you concerning a deceased customer and an investment he placed
under our banks management four years ago to the tune of Fifty million
united states dollars($50,000,000,00).I would respectfully request that
you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity
of the information you come by as a result of this mail.I have been in
charge of this department for six years and to best of my knowledge,i have
discharged my duty with equity.

In the process of review of the financial report by my department, I
discovered that both of you have a similar last name, hence I contacted
you so that I can give you further briefing on my intention and how to
disburse the funds and estate he left behind.My proposal; you share the
same surname With our late client; I am prepared to place you in a
position to instruct The security Firm to release the deposit to you as
the closest surviving relation.Upon receipt of the deposit,I am prepared
to share the money with you in half. That is: I will simply nominate you
as the next of kin and have them release the deposit to you. We share the
proceeds 50/50.

I ask that you do not destroy my chance, if you will not work with me let
me know and let me move on with my life but do not destroy me. I am a
family man and this is an opportunity to provide them with new
opportunities. There is a reward for this project and it is a task well
worth undertaking.

I will most welcome your prompt response via this email
stephenpharry_12@yahoo.dk as that would enabl us to start something
immediately.

Sincerely, stephenpharry_12@yahoo.dk



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