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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MICHAEL EZRA" <mss_ezcom0@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 12:13:11 +0100
Subject: solicit your assistance

From: The Manager,
International Commercial Bank Ghana
First Light Branch Accra, Ghana.

Hello,

I got your contact during my search for a reliable; trust worthy and honest person to introduce this transfer project with. My name is Mr. Michael Ezra. I am the manager of the International Commercial Bank Ghana, First Light Kaneshie Branch Accra.

I am a Ghanaian married with two kids. I am writing to solicit your assistance in the noble transfer of US$4.550.000.00. This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am the manager made as profit during the last year. I have already submitted an approved End of the last Year report for the year 2004 and also submitted report of first began quarter of this year 2005 to my Head Office here in Accra and they will never know of this Excess. I have since then, placed this amount of US$4.550.000.00 (four Million Five hundred and fifty Thousand United States Dollars) on a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.

What really matters in this relationship is the entire approach believing this to be welcome development. I must stress that I contacted you on trust, understanding, and oneness for the realization of this project. Base on this prejudice, I need your utmost co-operation, support and truthfulness in this relationship. This is because; the business I am about to establish with you must definitely take us affluence and be considered as the biggest welcome development of the year. You must understand that this is monetary matter and I have seen and heard how people have been turn apart in the past due to selfish desire. Let us allow God to lead us in this operation so that we can show example in the society.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I intend to part 30% of this fund to you while 70% shall be for me. I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to your nominated bank account anywhere you feel safer. All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund. If you accept this offer,

I will appreciate your timely response.
With regards,
Michael Ezra


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