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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 Habib" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <habibharry@aol.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2011 23:39:55 +0100
Subject: Mr Habib

Good day to you,

It is with good spirit of heart I opened up this great opportunity to you. My name is Harry Habib, I am well trained and work with the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, private banking department. I Work as part of a bigger team that covers the entire Europe region. I have taken pains to find your contact through personal endeavours.

On routine audit check, I discovered an investment accounts that have been dormant for the last six years (6yrs) with monies totalling a little above (US$24.8 Million United States Dollars). Banking regulation/legislation in UK demand that I notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time period of six years when dormant accounts of this type are called in by the monitory regulatory bodies. The above fact underscores my reason of writing and making the following proposal.

Upon my investigations of the said account reveals that the investor died in 2005 the exact time the account was last operated, the said investor died as a result of heart-related condition on March 12th 2005. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia where they all lost their lives and no next–of–kin to his estate has been found or has come forward all these years. I am of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage, working with you can secure the funds in the account for us instead of allowing it pass as an unclaimed fund into the coffer of the British Government. This is especially possible as you bear the same LAST NAME to the said investor, and can stand as his extended relative. This exactly is why I crave your participation and co-operation.

I have seized all relevant documents (Legal and Banking) including access to the very account of the deceased. That will facilitate my fronting you as the claimant/sole beneficiary of the decease estate/huge capital (US$24.8M) and ultimately transfer the money to any account nominated by you.

I shall however leave out the final details of this transaction till I receive an affirmation of your desire to participate. Be assured that I am on top of the situation. There will be no risk involved whatsoever if you agree to come on board. Needless to say, UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital important.

I guarantee that the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect all from any bridge of law. To affirm your willingness and cooperation to my proposal please contact me through my private email:habibharry@aol.co.uk stating the followings:

(1) Full Name:
(2) Contact Address:
(3) Occupation:
(4) Telephone:

Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Harry Habib
ICBC (London) Limited


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