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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: "Tony Beckley" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tonybec202@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:37:06 -0500
Subject: Business proposal for us to share

Hello,

I am contacting you to see if we can make a deal, My name is Tony Beckley. I discovered an unclaimed inheritance fund valued US$30M in the bank where I am working, Actually I do not have to involve myself officially because of my job, but I know what will be required to release the fund to you as I will present you as next of kin to the inheritance. I know all about the depositor who passed away in an air crash, he deposited the funds without next of kin to the deposit when it was made.

Please get back to indicate your interest so I can give you the full details of the transaction for us to commence immdiately. Reply me back via my private email address ( tonybec202@gmail.com ).

Best regards,
Tony Beckley.
+447045710630

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