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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: "gary fredrick" <garyfredrick_29@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrgaryfredrick_11@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:47 -0400
Subject: Dear Friend

Gary Fredricks
Head of Foreign Operations
Natwest Bank Towers,
14 Blythewood Glasgow G2 4AQ,
United Kingdom.
Private Email;mrgaryfredrick_11@yahoo.com
 
Dear Friend,
 
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics. I will introduce myself as Head of Foreign Operations of a well-known bank here in the United Kingdom.
 
One of our accounts with holding balance of L15,000,000(Fifteen Million British Pounds) has been dormant and has not been operated for the past 4 years.
 
From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account a foreigner by name Gerald Stone died in 4th of January 2002 and since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds. Also Information from the National Immigration states that he was also single on entry into the UK.
 
I have secretly discussed this matter with some of the bank officials and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased and funds released to you after due processes have been followed.
 
This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is a legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act. On your interest, let me hear from you.
 
Regards,
Mr. Gary Fredrick.


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