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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: "Clare Francis" <clare-francis@outlook.com>
Reply-To: clarefranncis@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2016 15:13:32 -0600
Subject: ATTENTION

Lloyds TSB Group plc
25 Gresham Street
London EC2V 7HN

Attns
Briefly, I am Clare Francis a Managing Director, Global Corporates, Commercial Banking, Lloyds Bank
I discovered a dormant account in my office, as Managing Director, Global Corporates, Commercial Banking, Lloyds Bank. It will be in my interest to transfer this fund worth {£20,000,000,00} Twenty million GB Pounds Sterling in an account offshore. If you can be a collaborator to this please indicate interest immediately for us to proceed.
Remember this is absolutely confidential. My husband does not know about this. My family will be in shambles if it burst out and I will also be in trouble as well as lose my precious job. Your contact phone numbers and name will be necessary for this effect.

Regards and respect,
Clare Francis
Managing Director, Global Corporate, Commercial Banking, Lloyds Bank

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