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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: paul george1933 <paulgeorge1933@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <paulgeorgeman4@yahoo.ca>
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 11:44:49 +0200
Subject: GREETINGS



Hello
I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank who perished with his whole families on 18TH JULY 2003 in KENYAN PLANE CRASH with the whole passengers aboard, his name is Dr. George W. Brumley. For further detail visit;
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/21/Worldandnation/12_Americans_die_in_K.shtml I am MR. PAUL GEORGE,I’m an Auditor in Development Bank (DBSA) of South Africa, during the course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 1999 by this great late INDUSTRIALIST Dr. George Brimley. Made (Deposit) of [26,500.000 USD] in my bank. I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.
After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, that the great America INDUSTRIALIST Dr. George W. Brimley died in plane crash with his families. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Dr. George Brumley did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.
This sum of [26,500.000 USD] has been floating as unclaimed since 1999 in my bank as all efforts to get his relatives have hit the stones. I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be approved to a local person here, without valid international foreign passport or driver’s license. I am revealing this to you with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business. At conclusion of this transaction the bank official will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place and to build confidence.
Consequently, my proposal is that I want to seek your consent as a foreigner to stand in as the owner of the money as the next of kin to the deceased so that the bank will transfer the money to your designated account. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out. I am assuring you that the business is risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest be for me and for investment purpose as I will leave South Africa as soon as the fund transferred into your account.
The sharing of the funds will be based According to agreement within me and you. As soon as I receive an acknowledgement of receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business proposal, I will furnish you with the necessary modalities and disbursement ratio to suit both parties without any conflict. Best Regards,
Mr.Paul George

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