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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: Ambassador Philip Sinkinson <philipsinkinson@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 05:49:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: WEALTH TRANSFER


Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Philip Sinkinson, the Credit manager of Beneficial Finance (HFC Bank LTD) London United Kingdom.
I have a proposal to discuss about a late family members fixed account in the bank.
Beneficial Finance is currently in possession of an amount of £71,000,000.00 GBP belonging to a deceased customer whose name is not stated in this mail due to our Bank's privacy policies which protects the safety of our client's information.  
 Our contact to you is based on the fact that our search revealed your last name is the same with that of the Deceased.
 Our records for this huge deposit showed no beneficiary as at the time of death of the depositor.
In view of this and my position as the head of payment of benefits to beneficiaries, your last name can be accepted for a relative/beneficiary to this huge amount of money.
My proposal is:
I want to present you to our bank as the beneficiary of the funds with the original deposit papers that I am going to give you, including other vital documents that will be validated to your name, the funds will be released to you upon presentation of these documents to the Foreign Transfer Department of the bank.
I would have gone ahead to claim it myself, but that would raise suspicions and my direct involvement, which might jeopardize my plans to gain from the inheritance, but presenting you will mask my involvement.
If you will be able to accept legitimate fund deposited with Beneficial Finance under a discreet arrangement then consider this proposal, there is a financial benefit attached to it if we can come to an agreement.   
I do not want you contacting me through my official phone or email; Contact me only through the numbers I have provided for you and also through my private email address. My official lines and email are not secured as they are periodically monitored to access our level of customer care in line with our Total Quality Management Policy, in addition to this security measures, all data calls are recorded and most mails forwarded to archives for reference purposes.
 Further details will be sent to you on this as soon as you signify your interest by sending to me immediately your full name as it is in your driver's license or international passport, your mobile telephone number, your fax number (if confidential) and your present contact address all needed for the legal documentation of this claim.
On receipt of your response with the above details, I shall update you with the procedures of payment of this said amount to you as the legitimate beneficiary.
Do not betray my confidence, bearing in mind this is urgent, if I don’t get your positive response within 3 working days, I will contact another Individual.
Please keep this correspondence confidential and discard it if you will not be able to handle it.
Yours Truly,
Philip Sinkinson.
Tel: +44 702 4010 663, +44 871 3135177
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and any attachments are for the exclusive and confidential use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not distribute or take action in reliance upon this message. If you have received this in error, please notify us immediately by return email and promptly delete this message and its attachments from your computer system. Going contrary to this warning may be unlawful.
 



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