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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: Greg Osborn <gregxosborne@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gregosbornee@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2022 10:21:11 +0200
Subject: PROPOSAL!

Dear Friend,

My name is Greg Osborn, Head of Accounts Management Section of a
well-known Bank here in Johannesburg, South Africa. One of our accounts
with a holding balance of USD$23,500,000 (Twenty Three Million, Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) has been dormant for some years,
the owner died in a car accident without any registered next of kin.
Several efforts were made to find his extended family through their embassy
without success.

According to the Government Law here, at the expiration of 13 years the
fund will revert to the ownership of the South African Government, if
nobody applies to claim the fund.

My proposition to you is to present you to the bank as the Next of kin to
my late customer so that the bank will pay this $23.5 Million Dollars to
you as his beneficiary so that we can share the amount on a mutually agreed
percentage of 60% for me 40% for you.

All legal documents to back up your claim will be provided by me. All I
require is your honest cooperation to enable us to see this transaction
through. I will also guarantee you that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law here or in your country. If you are interested in these
transactions, Please do contact me so that I can give you comprehensive
details on how to proceed.

I will indulge you at this point to understand that this is privileged
information and must be strictly confidential.

Your immediate response will be highly appreciated.

Yours truly,
Mr Greg Osborn
Direct Telephone: +27638715626
gregosbornee@gmail.com

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