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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: "Bernard Russell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <BernardRussel@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:50:40 +0200
Subject: Vorschlag

Greetings my name is Bernard Russell, I work with the Standard Chartered Bank
here in South Africa account department, during our last annual inspections of all
various bank accounts in my bank (Chartered Bank of South Africa) ,
My department found a dormant account with an enormous sum of US$ 14,300,000.00
which was deposited by one late Mr. Christian Eich a German citizen.
>From My investigation we found out that the late Mr Christian Eich has no
beneficiary or next of kin to claim these Funds (US$ 14,300,000.00).

You can read more about Late Mr. Christian Eich on the below link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

We wish to assure you that We will provide all useful information’s and
documentation that we enable us transfers these funds into your bank account
legally without any problem.

If you accept our offer and to work with us, send us an email with your name
and phone number so we can send you more details

Please this transaction is confidential.

Best Regards,
Bernard Russell

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