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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Martin Poku <pokumm24@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <martinpoku10@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:40:19 +0100
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME



Dear Friend, My name is MR Martin Poku, I am the regional manager ofThe Agricultural Development Bank Tema Accra Ghana I gotYour information during my search through theInternet. I am 44years of age and married with 3 lovelyKids. It may interest you to hear that I am a man ofPEACE and don't want problem, I only hope we canassist each other. If you don't want this businessoffer kindly forget it, as I will not contact youagain.I have packaged a financial transaction that willbenefit both of us, as the regional manager of theAgricultural Development Bank it is my duty to send ina financial report to my head office in the capitalcity Accra at the end of each year. On the course ofthe last year 2006 end of year report, I discoveredthat my branch in which I am the manager made Twomillion five hundred thousand dollars [2,500.000.00]which my head office are not aware of and will neverbe aware of. I have since place this fund on what wecall SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without any beneficiary.As an officer of the bank I can not be directlyconnected to thismoney, so this informed my contacting you for us towork so that you can assist receive this money intoyour bank account for us to SHARE.While you will have 30% of the total fund. Note thereare practically no risk involved, it will be bank tobank transfer, all I need from you is tostand claim as the original depositor of this fund whomade the deposit with our branch so that my Headoffice can order the transfer to your designated bankaccount.If you accept this offer to work with me, I willappreciate it very much. As soon as I receive yourresponse I will details you on how we can achieve itsuccessfully. Best regards,Mr. Martin Poku,

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