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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: christopher meares <christophermeares79@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2017 01:12:40 +0200
Subject: Sir

Dear Sir

I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail
confidential and respect the integrity of the information . I contact
you independently and no one is informed of this communication. We can
work together for our common good.

I am Christopher Meares, Principal Assurance manager for one of
reputable financial institute Johannesburg, South Africa. I am getting
in touch with you regarding an investment placed under our banks
management 8 years ago.

In 2006, the subject matter; came to our bank to engage in business
discussions with our private banking division. He informed us that he
had a financial portfolio of 15.75 million United States dollars,
which he wished to have us invest on his behalf. Based on my advice,
we spun the money around various opportunities like Mining,
Exportation and real Estate and made attractive margins for our first
months of operation. The accrued profit and interest stood at this
point at over 20 million United States Dollars.

In mid 2017, he instructed that the principal sum (15.75M) be
liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring
cash payments in Hong Kong. We got in touch with a specialist bank in
Hong Kong, the ICBC Bank who agreed to receive this money for a fee
and make cash available to him.
However ICBC Bank got in touch with us last year that this money has
not been claimed. On further enquiries we find out that he was
involved in an accident in Mainland China while pursuing his intended
investment plans. He has stated in his profile similar name as yours
his Next of Kin with an address in your country which was now
non-existence on investigation.

What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you
will be made the beneficiary of these funds. The bank will contact you
informing you that money has been willed to you.

On verification, which will be the details I make available to the
bank, my bank will instruct ICBC Bank to make payments to you. You do
not have to have known him. I know this might be a bit heavy for you
but please trust me on this. For all your troubles I propose that we
split the money in half. In the banking circle this happens every
time. The other option is that the money will revert back to the state
or shared among the Directors of the bank.
Please get back to me immediately via email or phone below, preferably
by phone as only I will answer it immediately but I am not always on
the internet to see my email.
Provide your direct phone number so we may talk privately.
I await your response.
Regards
Christopher Meares
Email: christophermeares@hotmail.com
Phone: +27 6591 73093

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