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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: FIRST HORIZON BANK <robertgills1020@gmail.com>
Reply-To: firsthorizon8@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2023 23:30:17 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION URGENTLY NEEDED

HELLO, GREETING'S

Please accept my apologies for sending you a surprise letter. I'm
Miss.Miller Lisa, account manager at FIRST HORIZON BANK USA. I have a
very important matter I want to discuss with you. There is a checking
account opened at my company by a long-time customer of our bank. I
have the opportunity to transfer the remaining fund ($20,000,000.00,
TWENTY MILLION US Dollars) belonging to one of our international
clients who was killed on December 24, 2022 during Russia's war
against Ukraine. And being unmarried, he did not declare any next of
kin as heir apparent when the account was opened, although as his
account manager he told me that he will later forward the name of one
of his relatives as his next of kin to the account he does not fulfill
before meeting death.

I want to introduce you to our bank for this business as the
legitimate next of kin. All I require is your honest cooperation and I
assure you that this will be performed under a legitimate agreement
that will protect us from any breach of law. I agree that 40% of this
money will go to you as my foreign partner, 50% to me and 10% to the
financier, there is an outstanding debt of $183,200.00 Dollars, which
I have discussed with a financier who is willing to pay the total fee
through you as my (foreign partner). If you are genuinely interested
in my proposal, please let me know by providing me with the
information below.

Your full name:
Business name:
Residential address of your residence:
Your official occupation:
Your mobile number:
Your age:

The financier will remit the outstanding fee to you once I receive
your willingness to help me execute the funds transaction
successfully. You don't have to pay any money from your pocket.

Reply to this email.(firsthorizon8@gmail.com)
Have a nice day while I await your feedback.
Best regards,
Miller Lisa
Account Manager

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