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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: george hycent <georgehycent@ozu.es>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 13:06:01 +0100
Subject: Beneficiary


Dear Beneficiary,
It is with great delight that I write you.
On January 31st in the year 2000, tragedy struck and if you can recollect fully, the tragic incident was the fatal air mishap of Alaska airlines flight 261 from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico enroute sanfrancisco and Seattle.
Eighty-eight people were onboard that flight, eighty-three passengers and five crew members, none of them made it alive.
You can look it up at Alaska airlines archives with google.com
Onboard that ill fated flight was a worthy and highly respected customer with Lloyds TSB Spain in the name of Morris Thompson. He was onboard that flight in the company of his wife Thelma and his only child Sheryl Thompson. They had been in Mexico for vacation as at that time.
Let me add here that I had the rare privilege of meeting late Morris Thompson on two occasions and I can attest to the fact that he was a very fine gentleman, very simple, very humane and admired by all.
He was one of the state of Alaska most wealthy businessmen and prominent native.
Late Thompson had in a domiciliary account with Lloyds TSB Spain a certain amount totalling eight million, nine hundred and seventy-five thousand, ninety-five cents ($8,975,000.95)
It would interest you to know that late Thompson had appended the name of Sheryl and yours as his next of kin and for whatever reasons late Thompson may have had to include your name as next of kin no one can question.
Consequently, Sheryl Thompson demise now leaves you as the sole beneficiary and next of kin to the said funds in the account of Late Thompson.
Frantic efforts has been made since then to locate you and the delay was actually to ascertain the authenticity of your name as the true next of kin to Morris Thompson and you must forgive us for contacting you this late.
Once again, accept my deepest apologies for the delay in reaching you.
On receipt of your acknowledgement of this mail, you can reach me at your earliest convenience or at my alternative email, georgehycent@ozu.es
I anticipate your quick response.
Best regards,
George hycent

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