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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: william kofi <williamkofi20@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 06:14:32 -0800
Subject: From Regional deputy bank manager of International Commercial Bank Limited

Hello Dear,
I am contacting you base on recommendation, trust and confidentiality.
First let me introduce myself to you. My name is Mr,William Kofi I am the
Regional deputy bank manager of International Commercial Bank Limited. I
am also the Financial Institutional and Public Sector Officer. I am 51
years of age and married with 3 lovely kids. It may interest you to hear
that I am a man of PEACE and INTEGRITY" I only hope we can assist each
other. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of
us, as the deputy Auditor Regional manager of International Commercial Bank
Limited. it is my duty to send a financial report to our head office in the
capital city at the end of each annual general meeting.
On the course of this month 1st quarter annual general meeting which ended
last weeks , I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made an
excess profit of Three Million Ten Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand united
states dollars [USA$10.750,000,000.00] which my head office are not aware
of and will never be aware of. I have since placed this funds on what we
call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without any beneficiary.
As a deputy director of this bank, I can not be directly connected to the
funds, this is why I'm contacting you for us to work together so that you
can assist me and receive this money into your bank account for us to share.
Upon your acceptance of this proposal, I have generally agreed on this
sharing ration 35% of the total sum will be given to you for your
assistance upon the receipt of the funds in your account while 60% will be
for me. Note that there are practically no risks involved in this
transaction, it will be bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to
stand claim as the original depositor of this funds who made the deposit
with Spintex branch so that our bank head office can order the transfer to
your designated bank account.
Such transfer from our head office takes not more than 72hrs. This kind of
transfers is just like someone who banks in a particular bank and at a
point in time wishes to close his or her account and transfer the funds to
a different bank.
I assure you we can achieve it successfully if you can follow my
instruction and direction, hence I am here to make sure that every thing
works out.
Reply back to me so that I can give you the full details and the steps to
make the transfer successfully, hence I am here to make sure that every
thing works out.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best Regards,
Mr,William Kofi

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