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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: "Mr.Michael Harte" <e-banking@natwestbank.org>
Reply-To: michael_harte11@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:50:50 -0600 (CST)
Subject: LETS WORK TOGETHER WITH TRUST AND TRANSFER
=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A320=2C000=2C000.00_POUNDS?=




Hello!

Although you might be apprehensive about my email as we have never met
before. I am Mr. Michael Harte, a Banker,Head Of Operations with (NATWEST
BANK PLC)Leicester branch here in UK. There is the sum of £20,000,000.00
currently in my branch,there were no beneficiary stated concerning these
funds which means no one would ever come to claim it.

That is why I ask that we work together,I will be pleased to work with you
as trusted person and see that the fund is transfered out of my Bank into
another Bank Account. Once the funds have been transfered to your
nominated Bank account we shall then share it in the ratio of 60% for me,
40% for you.
Your urgent response is been awaited as this is an opportunity of a life
time for both of us.

Here is my email
address:michael_harte11@yahoo.com.hk
Mr.Michael Harte

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