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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: georgbaines@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2017 01:03:47 +0200
Subject: Policy Payment


Hello

My name is George Baines; I work for a Life Insurance Company here in the United Kingdom. It’s hard to imagine that anyone could be a beneficiary
of a life insurance policy and not receive the money but it happens all the time. Our company has Millions of British Pounds Sterling life
It is either the policy is forgotten or unknown because in most cases people buy life insurance and don't let their beneficiaries know about it,so
when the policy holder dies and the beneficiary fail to show up, the lump sum will be turned over to government as unclaimed funds

One of our policy holders late Mr. Eric Coetzee a South African national who until his death was a marine engineer with a UK shipping company, He
died in a ghastly automobile accident with his wife and daughter in 2011. His life insurance benefit (fund) is £550,000.00 Great British Pounds
Sterling which is equivalent of R10 Million South African Rand and he has no next of kin to claim the funds and this is the reason I contacted you.

Our company is ready to payout the deceased life insurance benefit (fund) to any South African who has his correct data, which I'm ready to furnish
you with as a South African for us to get his benefit and share the proceeds as partners. I'm also in position to get all the documents that would
be required by our company to approve the benefits in your name

All I require is your sincerity of purpose to enable us execute this transaction successfully with the believe that you would not betray me now or
after the money is transferred to your account. This transaction would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will neither breach nor go
contrary to international regulatory laws.

Furthermore, I shall provide you with more information after I receive your acceptance to partner with me and please hold this information highly
confidential for now until after the successful transfer of funds to your account. I therefore await your prompt response to ensure we commence
immediately

Regards,
George

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