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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.Federico Tugnoli" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tugnolif@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:42:19 -0700
Subject: Private Project.

Good day,
 
 
Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail Instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail.
 
This is due to the urgency and importance of The information. I humbly crave your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose devoid of any doubt in your mind because This project is based on Trust, Confidentiality and Sincerity of purpose in order to have an Acceptable meeting of the minds.
 
Although we never met before, but I have every reason to believe that you are a highly respected personality, considering the fact That I got your E- mail address through the Internet, my online Network, while searching for a reliable and reputable person to Handle this transaction.
 
I am a senior manager accounts/audit in UNIPOL MERCHANT BANCA (MERCHANT BANK) here in Italy. I am Writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of Immense benefit to both of us. In my department we discovered an Abandoned sum of 10.5 million Euros(Ten million five hundred Thousand Euros Only) in an account that belongs to one of our Foreign customers who Unfortunately lost his life on his way to the Airport. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting His next of kin or relatives to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as Next of kin or relation to the Deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.
 
Unfortunately I discovered that his supposed next of kin being his Only daughter and wife died along with him in the auto crash leaving nobody with the knowledge of this fund behind for claim. It is Therefore upon this discovery that I and his account manager now decided to make business with you and release The money to you as the next of kin or beneficiary of the funds for safety keeping and subsequent disbursement since nobody is Coming for it and we don't want this money to go back into Government treasury as unclaimed bill.
 
The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that such money remained after seven years the money will be transferred into Banking treasury as unclaimed funds. We agreed that 35% of this money would be for you as Foreign partner, while the balance will be for my colleagues and I. I will visit your country for the disbursement according to The percentages indicated above once this money gets into your Account. Please be honest to me.
 
To commence this transaction, we require you to immediately Indicate your interest by a return e-mail and enclose the Following information:
 
1. Full name
2: Your private telephone and Fax numbers.
3. Occupations and Nationality.
4. Date Of Birth
5,Present Location
 
Note: This transaction is confidential and risk free. As soon as you receive this mail contact me through my private E-mail address  tugnolif@yahoo.com.hk
 
Please note that all the necessary arrangement for the smooth release of these funds to you will been finalized as soon as you indicate your role in this transaction. We will discuss much in details when I receive your response.
 
Thanks and good luck to us.
Best regards,
Mr. Federico Tugnoli

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