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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: "Michael Baungartner" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mchb50@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 20:45:02 +0200
Subject: Good Day: 06/06/09

Dear Friend,

Greetings to you and your family. 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 independently as no one is informed of this communication. On July 6, 2004, a client of ours, a consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation though now deceased, had a financial portfolio with accrued profit and interest standing at 21Million United States Dollars, which he requested be liquidated from his accounts and have it deposited with our affiliate investment security firm and numbered fixed deposit in my branch for 12 calender months for a good investment interest rate(call deposit) as advised by me at that time. I undertook all the processes and ensured I followed his precise Instructions to the letter and had the funds deposited. Upon maturity several notice was sent to him and no response came from him.

Another notification was sent last year and still no response came from him.The Bank officially sent a two-man delegate to his contract employers,Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation and to his forwarding address where he resides only to find out the business mogul and his family had died from an automobile accident.After further investigations,it was also discovered that the decease did not declare any next of kin in his official papers,including the paper work of his bank deposit. So, Twenty One Million United State Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it.According to the laws of my country, since the contract period has long expired, after rolling over, the funds will revert to the ownership of the Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.Please note that,I alone have the deposit details and I am prepared to share the deposit with you in halves plus interest accrued till date.That is: I will simply nominate you as the next of k!
in and have my bank Release the de

I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by me for the deposit to be released in your favor as the beneficiary next of kin.Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavor.I have intentionally left out the details. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual partnership,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 transfer can be made. We both stand to be well compensated on final conclusion of this project. Your share stays in your account while the rest shall be for me for Investment purposes.

I find myself privileged to have this information and this is a great opportunity of a life time of success without risks.

I intend to go into lucrative investments with you as the funds manager, that is if you are willing. If this business endeavor is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I bestow in you.Please reply to this mail (michaelbaungartner@gmail.com) with your advised information,I would appreciate the mutual relationship.

Thanks and regards.
Michael Baungartner.
Director, Investment Banking.

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