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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: Williams Bonin <williamsbonin65@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2024 23:50:38 +0700
Subject: I look forward to hearing from you,

Compliment of the season, My Name is Mahendra , I have a very confidential
Proposal that will benefit both of us, am auditor to my client who passed
away after a brief illness leaving the sum of ($14.75 Million) without any
next of kin and is a businessman. I have researched the account holder
family living no trace of any beneficiary of any kind. The importance/role
in this proposed deal is the fact that I have people who are well
positioned and officially capable of leveraging a successful claim of the
available fund, by presenting you as a beneficiary. We are equally capable
of setting up the internal paperwork, as a basis to officially make it
possible for you to be recognized as the bona-fide next of kin and
beneficiary to the available fund, which of course, will be eventually
split between us on terms to be agreed. The sharing of the fund is 50% for
you while 50% for me. I'm very much interested in the real estate business
that has been my dream, as soon as this fund is released to you then you
can direct me on how to invest in real estate. Please keep this very
confidential for security reasons.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours truly,
Dr Mahendra!
Emails: mahendrahuynh@gmail.com

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