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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: "Mr. Walter T. Kaczmarek" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <walterkaczmarek@heritagebonline.ca>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2018 14:01:28 -0000
Subject: NO UPFRONT PAYMENT REQUIRED

Hello Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Walter T. Kaczmarek, The CEO Heritage Bank of Commerce in San Jose California USA. I want you to stand in and receive the transfer of $12,500,000 USD Abandoned funds in my office. This is a safe and profitable proposal that will benefit both of us. You have my assurance that there is no risk involved.

My intention is to use my office to have the funds transferred for our mutual benefit. I will personally oversee the process of the transfer of $12,500,000 USD to you. This process would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that would legally protect you and I from any breach of any law locally and internationally. It is for our mutual benefit and I hope to trust you. This is strictly confidential and crucial for us to successfully reap the benefits of this transaction. Failure to do this transaction would legally allow the Bank to put the $12.5M in the Treasury or Unclaimed Dividend Trust Fund Account.

It would make no sense to allow $12.5M waste when we can take advantage of the situation and honestly if we don't do this; it will still end up in private pockets of corrupt people in government. You would be entitled to 40% of the large funds and 60% will be for I and my partners in the Bank. If you are willing to work with me on this, PLEASE REPLY ME THROUGH THIS EMAIL WITH YOUR PERSONALLY INFORMATION FOR SECURITY REASONS.

FULL NAME.....
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS....
RECENT PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPHY OR ID CARD....

Do we have a deal? We will proceed to the Bank upon your positive response.

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Walter T. Kaczmarek
(CEO) Chief Executive Officer,
Heritage Bank of Commerce, United States Of America.

Anti-fraud resources: