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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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Fraud email example:

From: "DR.EMMANUEL KWAME" <emmakwam05@hotmail.ro> (may be fake)
Reply-To: emmakwam05@myway.com
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 20:26:01 +0000
Subject: YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE PLEASE

Dear,

I decided to contact you after careful considerations, occasioned
by particularities of the following situation. At the International Commercial Bank of Ghana Plc in West Africa where I work as the chief foreign exchange controller, I noticed that an account was opened since 1998 in my department and ever since then, the account remained dormant as no one has ever come forward to operate it.
The said account is a non-residential account, denominated in United
States Dollars that means that the owner is a foreigner. The amount of
money deposited into the said account is US$ 2.5 Million (Two Million,
Five hundred thousand Dollars only), which is a large amount of money
by any standard. On further investigation, it was discovered that the owner of the account is dead since 2000 and still up to now no one has come forward as the next of kin to claim this money.
My conclusion, therefore, is that perhaps no one else knows about
the existence of this money, which is why no one has come forward. My
reason for contacting you therefore, is for you to pose as the next of kin
of the deceased to enable the transfer of this money into your account. Please note that this money cannot be approved to a local bank here in Ghana,since the account is a non-residential one, hence the need of a foreign account.As soon as the money is successfully wired into your nominated account,you should hold it in trust, until I arrive in your country, where we should share the money in a ratio that both of us will agree on later.
Please note that the management of my bank is favourably disposed to approve this money to be remitted into the account of anyone with correct information regarding the said account.
With my position, I will provide you with the necessary information.
Once you are willing to co-operate with me I will execute all the necessary documentations that will enable the smooth operation of the
business.Upon conclusion of the business, I will destroy all the documents relating to it, so as to leave no trace behind.
Once you indicate your willingness to co-operate with me, I shall
get an attorney to draw up a memorandum of understanding between us. The said memerandum will be our guiding light through the business. It will give better definition to our rules and entitlements in the business. I may consider investing the said money in your present business, if I am convinced of its virility.Please note that this business is completely risk free, as I have worked out all the details to ensure that we have a hitch free transaction.
I shall communicate you all these details and the next step to take as
soon as you indicate your willingness to assist. Please remember to provide me with your private phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail address to enable easy communications between us.. You should also
treat this matter with utmost confidentiality as its very nature demands.

Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.
Sincerelly ,
Dr.EMMANUEL KWAME.



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