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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: "Gehman Locher" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <locher@ciudad.com.ar>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 11:31:37 -0700
Subject: Important Information...From Gehman Locher.

Good Day.
 
I am aware that this is an unconventional way of relaying an important message such as this. I did try without success to locate both your contact address or phone/fax number and as such, I resorted in contacting you via email. I am Gehman Locher an investment consultant working with Bank UBS AG Zurich presently at their offshore department.
I will be happy to work this deal out with you if you have a corporate or personal Bank Account that can receive large amount.
During one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant accounts with holding balances of US$320,000.000.00 {Three Hundred And Twenty million United State Dollars only} It has happened in the past, however, that customers pass away and their heirs can neither prove the death, nor their heir ship.
 
If you believe you have claim to a Swiss bank account for which the holder (e.g. an ancestor) has not been in contact with the bank for over ten years, there is a fairly simple procedure to follow, depending on the date the account was opened. If you are not familiar with Swiss Dormant Accounts and profile, please take a moment of your very busy schedules to read about Swiss dormant accounts:
 
website; www.crt-ii.org/2001_list/publication_list1_A.phtm
 
If you know that you are capable to handle large or small amount on trust and can keep secret and ready to take 40% of any amount I transfer to your account from the dormant accounts and I will take 60%, then get back to me immediately with your details @ <locher@ciudad.com.ar>
Send also your private mobile phone number where I can reach you now.
 
Thank you for your time and attention.
 
Warmest regards,
 
Gehman Locher.

Anti-fraud resources: