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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: "Walter Maxxwell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <walterrmaxwell@yandex.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2016 04:26:09 +0100
Subject: Please Help Me Claims This Funds®.

Top of the day to you and your family+®

Attention:-Sir/Madam.
#:Ref:HSBC/ABY/NRI/ACCT/0017083004
Direct Tel: +44-792-457-0777

My Name is Mr.Walter Maxwell.I am the auditor and head of computing department of
HSBC Co-operation Liverpool Branch,here London in United Kingdom.

There is an account opened in this bank in 2003 and since my inception into office on 2nd Jan 2016,
I then found this account and when I investigated deeply by contacting the assigned next of kin
I also found that the next of kin to this account was an Indonesia who lived in London for over 63Yrs
and nobody has operated on this account again after 2008.

I took the courage to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important transaction.
In order to transfer out $525,000,000 (Five Hundred And Twenty-five Million U.S Dollars) after going through
some old files, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently,it will be forfeited for nothing and
HSBC Bank London management might divert the funds to their own accounts.

Please respond immediately I will use my position and influence to effect the legal approval and onward transfer
of this fund into your account with appropriate clearance from foreign payment department.You will stand to get
40% while 60% will be for me. Kindly quote the reference (account)numbers above when responding to this mail.

I will fill you in with further details upon your reply .You can call me directly on this private telephone number
so that we can discuss more on how to transfer this funds to your designated account in your country .Tel:+44-792-457-0777
Reply to my private email:waltermaxxwell@yandex.com

Sincerely yours,
Mr.Walter Maxwell

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