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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: Ecowas Agency African <test@wiscom.com.cn>
Reply-To: <ecowasagency@live.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:34:24 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION URGENT RESPONSES.

EMANI ROSEMARY
AS SECRETARY:CASH CENTER DEPT.
SPECIAL PAYMENT SCHEME
ECO-WAS ALLOCATION AGENCY AFRICA
 
 
 
ATTENTION.
 
 
 
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?THE AGENCY BOARD OF THE ECO-WAS AND FINANCE HOUSE HAS GIVEN US THE FULL MANDATE TO CONTACT YOU IN RESPECT OF THE ORGANIZATION TO ACQUIRE,SETTLE AND PUT THINGS IN APPROPRIATE ORDER.NOTICE OF YOUR PAYMENT VIA HS BC-VISA DEBIT CARD OR DIRECT TO YOU VIA DIPLOMAT.
 
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT DUE TO THE NUMEROUS FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES OF SOME OFFICIALS HERE, THE PRESIDENCY HAS DIRECTED THAT YOUR LONG OVER DUE PAYMENT WHICH WORLD WIDE ORGANIZATION AFRICA GIVEN OUT TO THOSE WHOSE HAVE BEEN FRAUD BY AFRICA'S OFFICIALS OR CUSTOMERS WITH CONSIGNMENTS THAT HAS NOT BEEN DELIVERED THROUGH ONE PROBLEM OR THE OTHER, NOW IT WILL BE FINALLY SETTLED THROUGH THIS NEWLY INAUGURATED SPECIAL PAYMENT SCHEME. IN THIS PAYMENT SCHEME,YOUR PAYMENT IS TO BE PROGRAMMED INTO A VISA CARD ACCOUNT OR BY DIPLOMATIC MEANS;
THIS IS A CENTRAL WORLD WIDE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICA NEW WORKING RELATIONSHIP GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK,GHANA WHICH WAS PUT IN PLACE TO CURB INCIDENTS OF FRAUD. IN THIS SAID ARRANGEMENT, YOUR PAYMENT SHALL BE UPLOADED INTO A VISA CARD THAT WILL ENABLE YOU EITHER TO DOWNLOAD IT AT ANY ATM MACHINE OR AT YOUR LOCAL BANK ACCOUNT OR IT CAN BE SEND DIRECTLY TO YOU BY DIPLOMATIC
HOW EVER, TO ENABLE US PROCESS YOUR CLAIM,YOU WILL BE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING,  YOU ARE  ADVICE TO PROVIDE  DETAIL, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SEND TO US YOUR FULL NAME, PHONE AND FAX NUMBER INCLUDING YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS AND A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT  OR ANY IDENTIFICATION SO THAT WE CAN FORWARD IT TO THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,CARD DPT. OR DIPLOMAT. FOR THE NEXT STEP.
AS SOON AS WE GET ALL THIS INFORMATION WE ARE GOING TO GUIDE YOU ON HOW YOUR FUND WILL BE PROCESS ETHER THROUGH OUR AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE .
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU COMPLY AND CORPORATE SO THAT YOUR DELAYED FUNDS CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU THROUGH ATM MEANS OR DIPLOMATIC MEANS. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
 
REGARDS,
 
ASEMANI ROSEMARY
SECRETARY:CASH CENTER DEPT.
SPECIAL PAYMENT SCHEME
ECO-WAS ALLOCATION AGENCY AFRICA.

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