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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: "Sir.Brian William" <brian_william05@msn.com>
Reply-To: williams_mensah1@walla.com
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 11:12:04 +0000
Subject: PLEASE DO ME THIS FAVOUR FROM WILLIAMS MENSAH

BANK GHANA LTD, HIGH STREET BRANCH, TAKORADI, GHANA.
Dear,
Compliment of the season.I got to know of you in search for a reputable and
reliable person to assist me in an urgent need requiring utmost trust and, I
do foresee the surprise this letter may bring to you as it comes from
unknown person, but be rest assured as it comes with best of intention. And
I repose my confidence and faith in meeting you for assistance. Thus, my
humble intention to solicit for your understanding and co-operation in this
transaction as it will be beneficial to all of us involved.
MY NAME IS WILLIAMS MENSAH, I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAYS BANK OF
GHANA LTD,OF DAKAR BRANCH IN THE WESTERN REGION OF TAKORADI.
I WRITES YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH, I AM 42 YEARS OLD AND MARRIED
WITH TWO KIDS . I PACKAGED THIS FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU
AND I,AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE BARCLAYS BANK GHANA LTD. IT IS MY DUTY
TO SEND IN A FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL CITY ACCRA AT
THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR, ON THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR BUSINESS
REPORT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE THREE
MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS, ($3, 000.000USD) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT
AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF. I HAVE PLACED THIS FUND ON WHAT WE CALL
ESCROW ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BAaNK I CANNOT BE
DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY, SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST
ME TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 20% OF THE TOTAL FUND
AS COMMISSION. THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED, IT WILL BE A BANK TO
BANK TRANSFER, ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR WHO
MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE
TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT. IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I
WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND YOU CAN REACH ME ON MY EMAIL AS APPEARED ON
THIS MAIL IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE
DETAILS. AND YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME BY THIS MY DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER
+233-244-08-75-73 FOR MORE DETAILS THAT MIGHT REQUIRED FROM YOU IF YOU
THINK THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH ME .
THANKS,I AWAIT YOUR QUICK RESPONSE.
PLEASE REPLY ATwilliams_mensah1@walla.com
BEST REGARDS,
williams mensah


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