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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: "BENSON" <b_ogba@katamail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 10:52:52 +0000
Subject: LETS DO THIS DEAL TOGETHER

Auditing and Accounting Unit
Foreign Operations Department
EcoBank Abidjan Cote D'ivoire West Africa.
Email:(b_ogba@katamail.com)

DEAR FRIEND,

I am Mr.Benson Ogba ,one of the Directors in charge of Auditing and
Accounting section in EcoBank in West Africa and also Chairman of
Investigating and Auditing Department of this Bank. With due respect and
regard, I have decided to contact you on a Business Transaction that will
be very beneficial to both of us and our families in
future. During our Investigation and Auditing in this Bank, my department
came across a very huge sum of money belonging to one Deceased Mr.Morris
Thompson 61 years,of Fairbanks, Alaska America who died on January 31st
2000 with Alaska Airlines Flight 261.You can as well confirm it by yourself
through under stated Website of the incident
http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list
and if you want to know more about the man himself, you can check
http://http://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/mThompson.html As the
fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank without any claim of
the fund in our custody either from his family or relation because
he did not indicate any next of kin to this account incase of death such as
these. Although personally, I keep this information secret within myself
and partners to enable the whole plans and idea be profitable and
successful during the time of execution.The said amount is U.S $25.5m
(Twenty Five Million, five hundred thousand United States Dollars).As it
may interest you to know, I got your impressive information through one of
my good friends who works with Chamber of Commerce on foreign business
relations here in Cote D'ivoire though I did not disclose the deal to him.
Meanwhile as a Senior Staff in this bank, and the Director of Auditing and
Accounting, I have in my possession all the necessary documents to perfect
this deal by making you the bonafide next of kin/Partner whom this money
will be transferred into your account. I need your assistance and
co-operation to get this deal done. Because as a foreigner, you stand a
better position to be presented through documentation as the next of
kin/Partner since the deceased is also a foreigner,this is the reason why I
could not do this deal alone as an Ivorian and a Blackman as well.
I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth Conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 35% of the
total sum as gratification,while 1% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone
bills, while 64% will be for me and my partners. Please, you have been
advised to keep this "Top Secret" as we are still in service and intend to
retire from service after we conclude this deal with you. And I assure you
that this transaction will not last more than 10
working days and you confirm the money in your account.
I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you
confirm the money in your account. And ask us to come down to your country
for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously
indicated and
further investment,either in your country or any country you advice us to
invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when I
hear from you. I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating
your wish in this deal. I am expecting your urgent reply as soon as you
receive this message. Please send your response through my alternative
email addresses below for
security measures (b_ogba@katamail.com)
( God bless you And your family )
Best Regards,
Mr.Benson
Ogba


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