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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: info@email.com
Reply-To: pradellanorbert@yandex.com
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2015 07:44:47 +0100
Subject: Confidential..

Good Day to you,

My name is Norbert, I am a staff of a private Investment and Estates Management Company(AIET Trustees). I am a clerk in the records department of my company, my duties are to sort out files and records. My company is responsible for the management of private client portfolios, including trusts, charities and pension funds, i am contacting you concerning a deceased customer of my firm whom I believe you may be related to you, and an investment he placed under our management 8 years ago to the tune of Eighteen Million Euros.

I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail.

I have been in charge of the records department for 8 years and to best of my knowledge, I have discharged my duty diligently.

In the process of review of old records by my department, I discovered that your name is similar to the late investor's and from the records available he did not specify a next of kin; and since his demise 4 years ago nobody has come forward to claim this inheritance, normally such unclaimed inheritance is usually converted by the top officials for their own

benefit since there is nobody to come forward to claim the money,but I carefully withheld the files during the last review so that they do not discover it and convert it for their own interest.

This does not happen all the time but in this particular case i felt I could contact you because of your name and place you in a position to get this inheritance without any problems,with the hope that you will reward me handsomely for this information and opportunity which I have presented.

I could be compensated with a percentage of the total sum for bringing this information to your knowledge hence I contacted you so that I can give you further briefing on the procedure on how you can lay claim to the funds and estate he left behind.

Please note that I am in a position to insert your name on the records and then I will give you directives on how to formally apply for the funds to be released to you, on the condition that you will keep this very confidential so that nobody knows I was instrumental to this process, and then adequately compensate me for this favour, being that I am a junior staff my salary is barely enough for me to take care of my family, so this opportunity means a lot to me.

I ask that you do not destroy my chance, if you will not work with me let me know and let me move on with my life but do not destroy me. I am a family man with wife and children; this is an opportunity to provide them with new opportunities.

There is a reward for this project and it is a task well worth undertaking.

Please, again, note I am a family man; and I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold.

This is the one truth I have learned over time. do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this.
Please get back to me immediately on my email: pradellanorbert@yandex.com for further communication.



I await your response.

Regards,
Norbert Pradella
pradellanorbert@yandex.com

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