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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 Brown <gbfil0107@msn.com>
Reply-To: <gbrownfiles@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:10:36 +0000
Subject: Your Consent



Hello,My name is Mr. George M. Brown, a British Attorney based in United Kingdom. I would like to ask for your consent to present you as the Next of kin of my late client estate.My client made a deposit in a bank, valued presently at £30,500,000.00 {Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling} and the bank has issued me an official notification to provide his next of kin or beneficiary by will, otherwise the account will be confiscated within the next thirty (30) working days.All my effort since 2005 (3 years now) to locate any relative to this man, late Mr. Mark Michelle, has proved abortive. It is my intention to achieve this transfer in a legitimate way, all I Required is your trust and honesty co-operation. Confidentiality of this is also much required to enable us see this transaction through. This is a very legal business that I am very sure of its success and is absolutely 100% risk free.Kindly signify your willingness to assist me for further proceduresrelated to this transaction.Looking forward to your prompt response .Sincerely submitted,Mr. George M. Brown {Esq.}{Principal Partner}

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