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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 Fregene" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <georgefregene@ig.com.br>
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:37:57 -0700
Subject: Comment Immediately

Attention: Beneficiary,

I am Mr. George Fregene (Spring Bank Plc), One Mr. Roy Gohara. Want to claim your inheritance funds Valued (USD$26.5M) that was deposited in your name here in our bank by your late relative (MR. JOSEPH), did you enter into an agreement with him, to help you in receiving your fund? Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favor of (Roy Gohara)?

Do we proceed to issue all payment details to the said Mr. Roy Gohara, if we do not hear from you?

Yours Sincerely,
Mr. George Fregene

Anti-fraud resources: