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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mary Beyer" <mbeyer@mw.k12.ny.us>
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 07:15:34 -0400
Subject:


Item Type: Task
Start Date: Tuesday, 9 Sep 2014
Due: Tuesday, 9 Sep 2014

** Confidential **
** High Priority **



Hello,

I am Basyl Martyniuk (British National) the Assistant Administration Manager, Investment Fund Services at Hang Seng Bank China. Please keep this confidential as I contact you independently. I write you regarding the estate of Alfred and an investment placed under our bank's management 5 years ago. In 2005, the subject matter, came to our bank to engage in business discussions with our private banking unit. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of 14.5 million United States Dollars, which he wished to have us invest on his behalf. Based on my advice, we spun the money around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our first periods of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood at this point over 10 million United States Dollars. In mid 2007, he instructed that the principal sum (14.5M) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash payments in Hong Kong and China. We got in touch with a specialist bank in Hong Kong, Fubon Bank who agreed to receive this money for a fee and make cash available.

Fubon Bank Ltd. got in touch with us last year that this money has not been claimed. On further enquiries we found out that Alfred was involved in an accident in Mainland China, which means he died intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason I am writing you is because due to our code of conduct we are not allowed to show personal interest on funds of this nature, hence I decided to contact you due to the fact that you are based abroad.

What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds. I shall put everything in place legally and upon verification, which will be the details I make available to my bank, Hang Seng bank will instruct Fubon Bank to make payments to you. For all your troubles I propose that we split the money in half 50% each. I assure you that there is no risk involved on your part.

I will supply you more information to proceed as soon as I hear back from you. If you have any questions feel free to ask. If you have any questions feel free to ask at my private email bmartyniuk@e-mile.co.uk
I look forward to your return letter.
Thank you in advance.
Basyl Martyniuk


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