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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: bergerpatrickme4@gmail.com
Reply-To: bergerpatrickme1@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2015 16:43:03 +0000
Subject: bank in swiss



--
Hello ,



How are you doing today? I am a banker with a bank in Switzerland.
Before I proceed, I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to
you, I am aware that this is certainly not a conventional way of
approach to establish a relationship of trust, but you will realize
the need for my action, because I got your contact information from
the country public records when am searching for a last name similar
to one of the bank’s client, so I came across your contact details and
I decide to reach you through this medium of exercise. Though, this
medium (Internet) has been greatly abused by all sorts of dubious
persons, but I choose to reach you through internet because it still
remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication
at the moment.



I am conducting a standard process investigation on behalf of our Bank
and this investigation involves a client and also the circumstances
surrounding investments made by this client with our Bank. Our client
died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the
investments made with our bank. The essence of this communication with
you is to request you provide us with your information (Address,
Telephone and Fax Numbers) / comment on this issue so that I can use
my position in the bank to establish your eligibility to assume status
of successor in title to the deceased.You must appreciate that we are
constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this
point. Please respond to this mail as soon as possible to afford us
the opportunity to explain further details to you.Best Regards,

Berger Patrick.
Bern-Switzerland.
Foreign Remittance Department.

Anti-fraud resources: