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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: Mark Jonas <markjonasgh304@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <markjonasgh303@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:26:16 -0400
Subject: Goodday.



VERY URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL. ...............................................
Dear Friend,
My name is Mark Jonas.I am the regional manager of Barclays bank of Ghana takoradi branch in the western region of Ghana. I got your information on a recent bank conference with other West African countries held in Lome the capital city of Togo in West Africa. I write you this proposal in good faith; I am 48 years old married with two lovely kids. I am devoted at work and a man of peace. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I, as the regional manager of the Barclays bank it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each business year.On the course of 2005 business report,I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager,made a profit in excess of the sum of four million five hundred thousand united state dollars ($4,500,000.00)which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call escrow call account with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 20% of the total funds as commission.There are practically no risks involved,it will be a bank-to-bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.
If you accept to work with me Send your Tel/fax numbers for easy communication. I will appreciate it very much. reply me so that we can go over the details.
Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.
Yours truly
Mr.Mark Jonas.
_________________________________________________________________
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