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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: Richard Blair <r.blair65@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mr_blair_12@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:54:10 +0000
Subject: Write back please



Standard Bank London
5TH FLOOR CANNON BRIDGE HOUSE,
25 DOWGATE HILL LONDON
Standard Bank Clearing Number:4823
Postal Account: 80-2-2


Hello,

I am an investment consultant working with Standard Bank London at their offshore department Scotland. I will be happy to work this deal out with you if you have a corporate or personal Bank Account and if
you are capable to keep TOP SECRET.


During one of our periodic auditing I discovered some dormant accounts with holding balances of US$ 232,000.000.00 {Two hundred and Thirty Two million US Dollars only} Sometimes a person will open a bank account, deposit money, and then disappear into the tin air. Banks are not always able to find out what has become of these silent customers, or to know whether they should follow up on requests from people who claim to be heirs to the accounts. The main problem is that the customer resides abroad and, due to bank secrecy, the bank cannot publish notices in the international press to locate the depositaries. This has led the majority of English banks to refrain from opening small-deposit accounts for foreign customers; for fear that they will forget that the account exists.


It has happened in the past, however, that customers pass away and their heirs can neither prove the death, nor their heir ship. This was frequent occurrence during the wartime periods, and the banks have now set up a simple, rapid resolution procedure operating to their customers? advantage. Dormant assets are defined as any assets
deposited with a bank (i.e. an account, a custody account or a safety-deposit box) for which there has been no contact with the customer in the bank?s files for the last ten years or more.


If you believe you have claim to a Standard Bank account for which the holder (e.g. an ancestor) has not been in contact with the bank for over ten years, there is a fairly simple procedure to follow, depending on the date the account was opened this account has not been operated for the past years. As at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received.If you are not familiar with England Dormant Accounts and profile, please take a moment of your very busy schedules to read about Bank of England dormant accounts:

website; http://www.standardbank.com


If you know that you are capable to handle large or small amount on trust and can keep secret and ready to take 40% of any amount I transfer to your account from the dormant accounts and I will take 60%, send your account information?s by return mail. Tell me more about yourself, while I look forward to receive the above information.


I want to re-assure you that this business is risk free and you can send an empty account to receive the funds, provided that the account is capable to receive incoming funds. Send your private mobile phone number where I can reach you now. and let me hear from you. Thank you for your time and attention.


Warmest regards,
Mr Richard Blair
+44 703 594 6039
+44 703 594 7270






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