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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: "Kevin Tau" <smarthq66@wpr64a5x1.homepage.t-online.de>
Reply-To: <kelvintau7@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 22:08:30 -0700
Subject: INVESTMENT PURPOSE(I am a private investment banker)Find More Attached



INVESTMENT PURPOSE.
I am a private investment banker. I write you in respect of an investment made with our bank. We are conducting a standard process investigation in relation to matters involving a client of my bank. We have in our possession tentative evidence that you might be whom we seek. This is in reference to the circumstances surrounding the investments made by him at our bank. Our Private Banking client died intestate and nominated no next of kin to his investment. The essence of this communication is to request you to provide us information on three issues;

1- Are you aware of any relative/relation who shares your last name and whose last known contact address was in Haiti?

2- Are you aware of any investment of considerable value made by him at our bank in England?

3- If your answers to the above questions are yes, we can help establish your eligibility to assume status of next of kin to the deceased. It is pertinent that you inform me at your earliest convenience whether or not you are familiar with our deceased client and your eligibility, so we can put an end to our inquiries, surrounding this matter. You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this point.

Upon contact we will be able to verify and ascertain information which you have provided therein, allowing us to release the said Investment to you. Please contact me by electronic mail; kelvintau7@rediffmail.com as soon as possible to afford us the opportunity to close this investigation. Thank you for entertaining my enquiries.

I await your urgent response.
Best regards,
Kevin Tau


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