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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <jamesharfordx1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:02:39 +0000
Subject: RE: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION



From the Desk ofMr James HarfordHead, International Banking Division.Royal Bank of Scotland uk

Attention Beneficiary,

RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT/TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT THE SUM OF US$10,000,000.00

We wish to contact and notify you that our bank "ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND UK BRANCH " has received instructions and mandate to transfer the total sum of USD$10,000,000.00 (TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) to you,through your designated bank account.We were also adviced to contact you first for proper identifications as the rightful beneficiary and receiver of this fund,to cross-check with the information forwarded to us in this bank,based on the internet fraud going arround the world.

Note that this bank will not commence the processement of your fund transfer,not until you reconfirm your complete and correct information to us to authenticate you as the rightful beneficiary.In accordance to this transfer instructions,you are requested to reconfirm to this office the following information:

1) FULL NAME:2) CURRENT ADDRESS:3) TELPHONE /FAX NUMBER:4) OFFICIAL ID CARD NO:5) PRESENT OCCUPATION:6) PURPOSE OF YOUR PAYMENT (Inheritance or Contract payment):7) FULL BANKING DETAILS:

Lastly, upon the receipt of the above information, details/modalities of your payment transfer by this bank will be forwarded to you.Awaits your prompt reconfirmation.
Yours sincerely,

Mr James Tim HarfordHead, International Banking Division. Royal Bank of Scotland UK EMAIL:jamesharfordx1@hotmail.com



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