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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: paulacquah@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 12:26:00 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?FROM=20BANK=20OF=20GHANA?=

FROM THE DESK OF THE GOVERNOR
BANK OF GHANA (BOG)
REPUBLIC OF GHANA


Dear Sir/Madam,


We have on this 14th day of August, 2007 received a payment credit instruction
from the Government of Ghana to credit your account with your full contract
funds from the Millennium Challenge Account with our bank. This is to notify
you that your funds has been programmed for immediate release into your
nominated account but we can not transfer this funds direct to your nominated
bank account, because we are having a little problem with International
Monetary Fund (IMF) so our method of payment is by Diplomatic Courier Service.


Be informed that every arrangement regarding your cash payment through Diplomatic
Services has been made, your funds packaged like a consignment and the Diplomatic
Agency have to move down to your Country in order to deliver the Consignment
to your doorstep. Note also that as soon as the Diplomat arrives in your
Country they will give you a call immediately and you will help them to
get Customs Yellow Tag for the consignment. You have to help the Diplomat
to get the Custom Yellow Tag Paper so that the Customs will allow them entry
at the airport for onward delivery of the Consignment to you and for security
reason you are advice to follow the rules and regulations of the diplomat
for easy collection of the consignment.


Finally, please be aware that the diplomat will leave Accra, Ghana via London
and finally to arrive in your Country which is his last destination on the
diplomatic travel route. I want you to send your direct mobile phone and
your home address to me immediately, so that as soon as the diplomatic arrives
in your country he will call you immediately to notify you.


Cordially yours,


Dr. Paul Acquah
Governor, Bank of Ghana
Accra, Ghana.

FROM BANK OF GHANA



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