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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: "Gregson McHenry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gregmc001@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:26:39 -0500
Subject: CONTACT ME / ACTION REQUIRED

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Gregson McHenry, a senior staff and regional branch Auditor in our bank. i got your information during my searcher on your country chambers of commerce, and it will interest you to hear that i am a man of peace. i only hope we can be partner and assist each other.

I contacted you to be my partner in a financial transaction that will benefit both of us, as the regional bank auditor, it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office at the end of each year. on the course of the last year 2011 end of year financial report, i and my colleague now retired discovered an over invoice of ($9,800,000.00) Nine million eight hundred thousand united state dollars deposited in our affiliate security office, which my bank are not aware.

As an officer of the bank i cannot be directly connected to this money, hence i am contacting you to stand in as the beneficiary and partner to receive this money to your bank account. As my retired colleague is not aware of my intention and contact with you, i am willing to share fund in a ratio 50% for each party after the transfer is done.

Note there are practically no risk involved, it will be bank to bank transfer, or call cash delivery, and all i need from you is your honest and assistance to indicate your interest, please kindly get back to me.

Hope to hear from you.

Best regards,
Mr. Gregson McHenry

Anti-fraud resources: