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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: "Tevez Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tevezjohnson2@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:21:25 -0400
Subject: Principal Assurance manager for the Bank of commerce

I am Tevez Johnson, Principal Assurance manager for the Bank of commerce . I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of Bryan Pearce a business Mogul and an investment placed under our banks management 7 years ago.

I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail. I contact you independently and no one is informed of this communication. In 2002, the subject matter; Bryan came to our bank to engage in business discussions with our private banking division. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of 5.3 million British Pounds, which he wished to have us invest on his behalf.

Based on my advice, we spun the money around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our first months of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood at this point at over 10 million British Pounds. In mid 2004, he instructed that the principal sum (5.3M) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash payments in Scotland. We got in touch with a specialist bank in Edinburgh, Adam & Company who agreed to receive this money for a fee and make cash available to Bryan. However Adam & Company got in touch with us last year that this money has not been claimed. On further enquiries we found out that Bryan was involved in an accident leaving no next of kin. He has no next of kin and the reason for my contacting you is for you to establish contact with the bank as the next of kin and beneficiary to these funds as an Escheat might soon be approved (Legal procedure whereby property/assets are returned to the state/Government.

What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds. My bank will contact you informing you that money has been willed to you. On verification, which will be the details I make available to my bank, my bank will instruct Adam & Company to make payments to you. You do not have to have known him. I know this might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all your troubles I propose that we split the money in half. In the banking circle this happens every time. The other option is that the money will revert back to the state.

Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to these funds, and as a British National we see so much cash and funds being re-assigned daily. You can get back to me through the above email, phone or fax number.

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 ventured 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 get back to me immediately for further information.



I await your response,



Tevez johnson

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