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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: "William Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <william.mark101@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 00:15:22 +0100
Subject: Please get back to me immediately

Am William Mark , Business Relations Manager for the Royal bank Of
Scoltland(RBS) in Glasgow,Scoltland . I am getting in touch with you
regarding the estate of a deceased client with similar last name and
an investment placed under our banks management.



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 2000, the subject matter, an American investor came to our bank to
engage in business discussions with our private banking division. He
informed us that he had a financial portfolio of $8.35 million United
States dollars, 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 United
States Dollars. In mid 2002, he instructed that the principal sum
(8.35M) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment
requiring cash payments in London. We got in touch with a specialist
bank in United Kingdom,Natwest Bank Plc (NWB)London,United Kingdom who
agreed to receive this money for a fee and make cash available .
However Natwest Bank Plc got in touch with us last year that this
money has not been claimed. On further enquiries we found out that the
American investor was involved in an accident in Mainland Scoltland,
which means he died intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason I
am writing you is because you share the same last name.


What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you
will be made the beneficiary of these funds. Natwest Bank Plc will
contact you informing you that money has been willed to you. On
verification, which will be the details I make available to Royal Bank
Of Scoltland(RBS) and Natwest Bank Plc (NWB) will be instructed to
make payments to you after all the necessary verification and
application is done. You do not have to have known the American
investor. 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.


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. I would want us to keep communication for now
strictly by the above email.



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 via the above
email.



I await your response.
William Mark


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