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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: "Miss. Dorcas Appiah" <dorcas.appiah@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 23:39:03 +0200
Subject: TO YOUR KIND ESTEEMED///.

Hello Dearest,

I'm Dorcas Appiah, I'm a refugee 24yrs old female (single) and I'm from Sudan in Africa.

I'm writing this mail to you with due respect, trust and humanity and with pains, tears and sorrow from my heart, strongly believing in Almighty God that you will consider my letter and help me and also benefit from me as you do just that. Although, we have neither met in person nor by communication.

But I believe, it is one day you get to know someone, either by physical or through correspondence. Honestly, I wish to contact you personally for my long term pending inheritance here in Ghana. I lost my parents two brothers and sister during the war in my country so I left alone now in my family. Please want a relationship and investment assistance in your country and you will help me apply for my inheritance funds from the bank as my partner / beneficiary.

My late Father was an investor, he invested his fund to Sudan stock exchange market, Gold storing investment, and he was a preference shareholder in Shell Petroleum Company and deals in Real Estate building investment. My late Father deposited this huge sum of $60.8 Million, with Barclay's Bank here in Ghana and he made me the next of kin.

As you made up your mind to help me receive my inheritance in your designated bank account you're going to be entitle of financial benefit of 30% of the total fund; while the rest of the fund shall be my investment capital in your country through your guidance. I have no knowledge of international transaction of this nature but I took this decision personally because it occurred to me that transfer of this type must involve an expenditure, on the other hand, in the absent of expenses which I do not have the financial capability right now. So I want you to assist me in the claim directly by instructing the bank on my behalf to receive the funds as my foreign partner / beneficiary. I have with me here the Deposit Slip and Deposit Certificate issued in the name of my father when he made this deposit with the bank; so if the bank requested for them I will send them to you, I also have with me the Death Certificate of my father.

As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I'll give you the bank contact information so that you can contact them directly on my behalf immediately.

Please do keep this only to yourself for now until the bank finish transferring the funds. I beg you not to disclose it until I come over because I am afraid of my wicked uncle who has threatened to kill me and have the money alone; I thank God today that am out from my country (Sudan) but now In (Ghana) where my father deposited these money with my name as the next of Kin. I have the documents for the claim here with me.

Please you can send me your full name, address and mobile phone number for easily communication.

In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely.

You can as well send me your Skype Id so that we can chat on webcam to webcam to know each other very well.

I look forward to your urgent response.

Yours Faithfully,
Miss. Dorcas Appiah.


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