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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: Don Berks <gimena.nallar@cisnergia.gob.ec>
Reply-To: Don Berks <donald.berk@mail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2017 04:05:34 -0500 (ECT)
Subject: Imperative

<br><br><br><div>Good Day to you,<br><div><br></div><div>My name is Donald Berk, I am the Senior Vice President, Head of Fund Accounting at Northern Trust Wealth &amp; Asset Management UK / IRELAND. I am also an investment director responsible for the management of private client portfolios, including trusts, charities and pension funds, i am contacting you concerning Albert, a deceased customer of my Bank and investment he placed under our banks management 8 years ago to the tune of eighteen million United States dollars ($18, 000, 000, 00). 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 this department for years and to best of my knowledge, I have discharged my duty with equity.<br></div><div><br></div>In the process of review of our financial report by my department, I discovered that both of you have a similar last name; hence I contacted you so that I can give you further briefing on my intention and how to disburse the funds and estate he left behind. My proposal; you share the same surname with our late client; I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct the Bank to release the deposit to you as the closest surviving relation. Upon receipt of the deposit, I am prepared to share the money with you in half. That is, I will simply nominate you as the next of kin and have them release the deposit to you. We share the proceeds 50/50.<br><div><br></div>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. <br><div><br></div>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 from my private banking clients. do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this.<br><div><br></div>Please get back to me immediately for further communication <br><div><br></div>I await your response.<br><div><br></div>Regards,<br>Donald Berks</div>

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