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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: barryguise43@gmail.com
Date: 20 Jun 2018 03:03:37 +0000
Subject: FYI

Hello ,

I am Barry Guise, Treasurer at BridgeWater Bank Canada. I am
writing you regarding the estate of Mr. Alfred and his
investment placed under our bank's management 5 years ago. I
would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this
letter confidential due to its integrity and value. I contact you
independently and no one is informed of this communication.

In 2012, Alfred engaged our bank in business discussions with our
private banking division. Mr. Alfred informed that he had a
financial portfolio of 14.5 million USD which he wished to have
us invest on his behalf, based on my advice, we spun the money
around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our
first months of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood
at over 10 million United States Dollars. In mid 2014, he
instructed that the yielded interests be made available because
he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash payments in
mainland China. We made arrangements with a specialist bank in
China who agreed to receive this money for a fee. After transfer
was effected, we did not hear from Mr. Alfred.

Our Customer base review last year revealed that this money has
not been claimed. On further investigation we found out that Mr.
Alfred was involved in an accident in Mainland China, which means
he died intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason I am
writing you is because due to our code of conduct we are not
allowed to show personal interest on funds of this nature. More
so, I got your email address through the commerce of trade
foreign division and based on the fact that you have same last
name as Alfred.

What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his
account file (I was his accounts officer at the time), you will
be made the beneficiary of these funds (all legalities will be
put in place). Thereafter, My bank will contact you informing you
that money has been willed to you. On verification, which will be
the details I make available to my bank, my bank will instruct 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 40% to me
and 60% to you. In the banking circle this happens every time. If
we do not lay claim, the money will revert to the state as
unclaimed.

Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us and
I hold the KEY to these funds, and as a banker we see such funds
being re-assigned daily.

Once again, kindly note I am a family man, I have a wife and
children. I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as
to the consequences, but 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.

As his accounts officer, I am obliged to give you the necessary
guides and inputs that you may require to complete the claims
process.

Respectfully,

Barry Guise
Treasurer
Bridgewater Bank Canada
+1-404-793-8564

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