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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: r_schock04@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:33:45 +0100
Subject: {Spam!}

Attn:

I am Mr. Robert Schock, I work with the Chartered National Bank as an
account officer in the Treasury/Credit Control Unit. I was the
accounting officer of a national of your country, who died with his wife
and their only son, after they were involved in a car accident.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last
name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I
contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the assets
and Capital valued at 12,540,000.000 Million Pounds left behind by my
client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
share holders of this Bank, so that they can share his funds as
dividends amongst themselves.

The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.
Because as at the time of his demise I was his accounting officer, but
have since been promoted to the position of Treasury/Credit Control
Unit, ever since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for
sometime now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to
the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of
this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive
response, we shall then discuss modalities for transfer.

As soon as I recieve an acknowledgement of your acceptance, I will
furnish you with the necessary modalities of the transaction. I assure
you that this transcaction is 100% risk free, and as soon as we succeed
in getting this funds to your account, The money will be shared on a 50,
50 basis............... I guarantee that this will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

I am waiting to hear from you soon.

Best regards,

Robert Schock.

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