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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: panevski24@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:15:30 -0300 (CLST)
Subject: [SPAM]GUTEN TAG

Dear Friend

Thank you for giving me your time. Please be patient and read my email to
you. I work as an internal auditor for a Suisse Bank. Prior to this
position, I was attached to Private Banking services. I am contacting you
concerning an investment placed under our banks management; you are
contacted independently out of investigation in the bank. I would like to
intimate you with certain facts that I believe would be of interest to
you.
In the year 1994, a certain single account holder (now deceased) came to
our bank to engage in business discussions with our Private Banking
Services Department. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of
21 million United States dollars, which he wished to have us invest on his
behalf. I was the officer assigned to his case; I then proceeded to
provide numerous suggestions and advise in line with my duties as the
de-facto Chief Operations officer of the Private Banking Services
Department, especially given the volume of funds he wished to put into our
bank. We met on numerous occasions prior to any investments being placed.
I encouraged him to consider various growth funds with prime ratings. The
favored route in my advice to customers is to start by assessing data on
600 traditional stocks and bond managers and alternative investments.
Based on my advice, we spun the money around various opportunities and
made very attractive profits margins during our first months of operation.
He desired low risk and guaranteed returns on investments, and as such we
could not utilize the full potential of the funds. At some point, he
requested disinvestments and directed that the funds be deposited in a
Fixed (Numbered) Deposit account in my branch for 12 calendar months. His
instructions were precisely followed to the latter and all the funds
recalled from the active market and deposited. Upon maturity, I sent a
routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a
month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract
employers, that he died from an automobile accident. On further
investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all
attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. Further investigation of
the said account revealed that the death occurred in 1999, the exact year
the account was last operated, and also he did not declare any kin or
relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit
paperwork in my Bank.
This money is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled
over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come
forward to claim it. Banking regulation and legislation in Switzerland
demand that I notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time period
of twelve years when dormant accounts of this type are called in by the
monetary regulatory bodies. It is only an outsider to the banking world
who finds the internal politics of the banking world aberrational. The
world of private banking especially is fraught with huge rewards for those
who occupy certain offices and oversee certain portfolios. Consequently,
my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next
of kin. This is especially possible as you share same
details as the said investor. This exactly is why I crave your
participation and co-operation. I have seized all relevant documents
(legal and Banking) that will facilitate our putting you forward as the
claimant and beneficiary of the funds and ultimately transfer the money to
any account nominated by you. Of course you shall be handsomely rewarded
for your part in this transaction as I am prepared to share the deposit
with you in halves 50% of the total funds for your efforts, less expense.
I shall however leave out the finer details of this transaction till I
receive an affirmation of your desire to participate. To maintain the
level of security required to see this transaction come to a successful
conclusion, I have intentionally left out the details. Please acknowledge
receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual partnership and
endeavor by furnishing me with your Full Names, Date of Birth, Telephone
Number, Fax Number, company / position held, Email address, Contact
address and Postal address. These requirements will enable us file letter
of claim to the appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your
favor for the deposit to be
released to you before the funds can be released for transfer.
There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by an attorney and with me as an insider guarantees the successful
execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply
immediately to this mail:panevski24@hotmail.com The dynamics of my
industry dictates that I make this move. Such opportunities only come once
in a lifetime. Do not betray my confidence and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Awaiting your
urgent reply via my email:panevski24@hotmail.com

Thanks and regards.
Ljubco Panevski.
Director, Investment Banking.





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