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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: "Maybank Group" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kl.andyliew@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 08:58:15 +0800
Subject: URGENT INFORMATION

Good Day to you.

My name is Andy Liew, I train and work as an external auditor for Maybank Bank, working as a part of a bigger team that covers the entire Region. I have taken pains to find your contact through a random web search.

On a routine audit check this year, I discovered some investment account that has been dormant for at least ten years. This investment account was originally opened in 2001. This investment account belonged to a single/one account holder with monies totaling a little above $7.5 Million United States Dollars in equivalence to local currency. Now banking regulation/legislation in Malaysia demand that I do notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time span of 7 years when dormant accounts of this type are called in by the Malaysian Monetary Regulatory bodies.


The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and proposing to you. My investigation of the said investment high deposit account reveals that the investor, an American had died in the exact time the account was last operated. I can confirm with certainty that the said investor died interstate 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, I, working with you can secure the funds in the account for us instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Government of Malaysia. This is especially possible; this is exactly why I crave your participation and co-operation. I am seized with all relevant documents (legal and banking) that will facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimately transfer the money to an account to be nominated by you. In 1997, I was one of the auditors who worked on the merger process of banks during the Asean crisis and I am very conversant with the history of such particular account, of course you shall be handsomely rewarded for your part in this transaction as the people I am working with are prepared to allocate a 40% slice of the total funds for your efforts. I shall however leave out the final details of this transaction till I receive an affirmation of your
desire to participate. Rest assur


Please, again, note I am a family man; I have a wife and children. I send you this letter not without a measure of fear as to the consequences, but I know within me that nothing venture 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 pardon my sudden contact with you. Please get back to me immediately via the email contact below. I do expect your prompt response




Andy Liew
Maybank Malaysia.
Email: kl.andyliew@gmail.com
5 Sept 2011

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