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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: =?utf-8?B?IkdhYnJpZWxhIEpha3ViY29277+9Ig==?=
<waltrgibson@telecom.cz>
Reply-To: waltergibson.uk@live.com
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:36:22 GMT
Subject: Confidentiality Required........Business


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
Walter Gibson,Staff of Hamilton Direct Bank Limited.I am contacting you
concerning a deceased customer and an investment he placed under our
banks management five years ago to the tune of Fifty million united
states dollars.I would respectfully request that you keep the contents
of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information
I will most welcome your prompt response via this
email waltergibson.uk@live.com as that would enable us to start
something immediately.

Sincerely,Walter Gibson




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