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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: "John Lim Poh" <jjohn_limpoh@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: johhn_llimpoh@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:43:03 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Prospective Partner




Email:johhn_limpohh@yahoo.co.jp


Dear Prospective Partner,

My name is John Lim Poh, I train and work as an external auditor for the
Bank of Singapore (BOS), working as a part of a bigger team that covers
the entire Asian region. I have taken pains to find your contact through a
random web search using the deceased surname. I have asked a friend coming
to the UK to post this letter on my behalf.

On a routine audit check last year, I discovered some investment account
that has been dormant for at least twelve years. All the ccount belongs
to a single/one account holder with monies totalling a little above 10.5
million United States Dollars. Now banking regulation/legislation in
Singapore demand that I do notify the fiscal authorities after a
statutory time span of twelve years when dormant accounts of this type
are called by the Singapore Monetary Regulatory bodies.

The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and proposing
to you. My investigations of the said account reveals that the
investor, a Briton had died in 1996 –the exact time the account was
last operated. I can confirm with certainty that the said investor died
interstates and no next-of-kin to his estate has been found or has come
forward all these years.

I am of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage, I,
working with you can secure the funds in the account for us instead of
allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of the government
of Singapore . This is especially possible as you bear the same last
name to the said investor. This is exactly why I crave your
participation and co-operation. I am seized with all relevant documents
(legal and banking) that will facilitate our putting you
forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimately transfer
the money to an account to be nominated by you.

Of course you shall be handsomely rewarded for your part in this
transaction as the people I am working with are prepared to allocate a
30% slice of the total funds for your efforts.

I shall however leave out the final details of this transaction till I
receive an affirmation of your desire to participate. Rest assured I am
on top of the situation all the time and there will be no risks
whatsoever if you elect to come on board.

Please, again, note I am a family man; I have a wife and children. I
send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the consequences,
but I know within me that nothing venture is nothing gained and that
success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is the
one truth I have learned from my private banking clients. Do not betray
my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on
this. Please pardon my writing mistakes. Please get back to me
immediately via the telephone, facsimile or email contact above.

I do expect your prompt response.

Truly,

John Lim Poh.


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