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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. Copart McAfee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sandersn_week@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2012 13:18:37 +1000
Subject: I seek for your co-operation

FROM THE DESTOP
OF MR.COPART MCAFEE.
REALM FINANCE BANK,
UNITED KINGDOM.
TEL. +44 7822 1490 52
 
Hello,
 
I seek for your co-operation; my name is Mr. Copart McAfee and i am a banker with Realm Finance Bank here in London. I was the personal accountant to late engineer Michael, who used to work with British oil major total company here. Herein, shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2009, Mr. Michael, his wife and his three children were involved in a drastic car accident along Rodney Road, Portsmouth, Hants, PO4 8SX. Unfortunately he and his three kids lost their lives.
 
immediately in the event of the accident, while the wife was taken to the hospital where she died three days later. Their bodies were kept in the mortuary for five months, in order for the authority, to carry out a proper investigation on how to locate their surviving relatives. They have checked all available public files and embassies, but all their efforts had proved abortive, as they could not find any of their relatives.
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, no one has been coming for his account that he deposited with my bank (Realm Finance bank Plc UK). And due to the banking law and regulation of 2005, sub section 18d page 103 chapter 11 of constitution governing all banking policy, and in accordance to the banking decree 003 sub section 45 which stated that any deposited fund which remains unclaimed after the existing period of four years will be confiscated by the national treasury department as unclaimed fund. And this has brought too much agitation in our bank between boards of directors on how to declare this account unserviceable, base to the fact that the deceased has no next of kin. After the meeting held by the executives of Realm finance bank with the personal attorney to late Michael .on 15th of April 2011, they have all agreed to extend the date to last Friday (22nd) of June 2012.
 
Consequently to this, I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before the national treasury department gets them confiscated or declare unserviceable by Realm finance bank Plc, Where the deceased have an account Valued at about Eleven million, three hundred and forty five thousand Great British Pounds (?11, 345,000.00). The bank has issued out a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next few weeks. Since no one has been able to locate their relatives for over four years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that this account valued at Eleven million, three hundred and forty five thousand Great British Pounds (?11, 345,000.00) can be paid to you and then you and I Can share the money. All the necessary documents concerning this claim are with the Bank legal department. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us ! seeing this deal through.  
I would like you to contact me via my private email address below, if you are willing and ready to assist me in repatriating the funds.
 
sandersn_week@yahoo.com
Yours Truly,
Mr. Copart McAfee.

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