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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: "alan" <alan@justsalad.com.hk>
Reply-To: <bar.bradleymeyers11@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:02:32 +0800
Subject: Best Regards,

Bradley Meyers
Operating Officer,
Coutts & Co, Private Bank.
London, United Kingdom.

Hello,

I am Mr. Bradley Meyers, the accounting officer-in charge of the private investment section of the above named Finance house. I have decided to contact you on a business transfer that requires confidentiality, trust and transparency, where both of us have a lot to benefit, during my investigation and auditing in the accounts section, my department came across this money belonging to a deceased person, a foreigner who died on May 7, 2008 in an auto crash and happens to share the same last name as you.
This Fund has been dormant in his account in the private investment dept without any claim to this fund in our custody, either from his family or relation. The said amount is ?22.6M (Twenty-Two Million Six Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling). As it might interest you to know, I got your contact through international business inquiry and my search for a trust worthy business partner that can handle a business of this magnitude meanwhile all arrangement to put claim to this fund in your name as the bona fide next of kin to the deceased, and get the required approval to transfer this money to a foreign account, have been put in place.
While the next line of action to conclude this transaction in the next 10 working days, will be relayed to you as Soon as you indicate your interest in this transaction. I must also inform you that upon the completion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 40% of the total sum as gratification, for your role and assistance, while the balance will be for me as the owner of the funds. Please, you have been advised to keep this to your self since I am still in service and intend to retire after I conclude this project.
I will be monitoring the whole situation here until you confirm the money in your account.
Then, immediately, I shall come down to the country of your nominated account for subsequent sharing of the Funds according to percentages previously indicated and further investment.

Best Regards,

Bradley Meyers

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