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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: "MR. MICHAEL KAGAME" <mkagame95gh@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mkagame111@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 12:17:46 +0000
Subject: GREETINGS

GREETINGS,
DEAR SIR/MA
I THANK GOD IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR GRANTING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITING TO YOU. MY LETTER RATHER COME TO YOU AS A VERY BIG SURPRISE, PLEASE BEAR IT WITH ME AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY I HAVE IN MY PRESENT SITUATION.
I GOT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS THROUGH THE INTERNET, WHEN I WAS SEACHING FOR A RELIABLE GOD FEARING PERSON, WHO WILL NOT SIDETRICK/BETRAY ME IN THE COLLECTION OF THE CONSIGNMENT FUNDS TO CONTACT THE COMPANY HERE IN GHANA FOR THE CLAIM OF FUNDS.
I WISH TO USE THIS MEDIA TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND INVEST IN GOOD BUSINESS IN YOUE COUNTRY. MY NAME IS MICHAEL KAGAME, THE SON OF LATE JOSEPH KAGAME I AM 24YEAR OF AGE, A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. (Ex-Zaire). BY NATIONALITY PRESENTLY RESIDING IN ACCRA,GHANA.
MY FATHER HAD A BULLET SHOT ON HIS WAY TRAVELLING TO LUMUBASHI A CITY AFTER KINSHASA , MY FATHER WAS RESCUED BY THE UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE AND WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. BEFORE IS DEATH, HE REVEALED TO ME AND MY MOTHER ONE BOX CONTAINING THE SUM OF $US 20.5 MILLION (TWENTY MILLION FIVE HUNDREN THOUSAND US DOLLARS) HE DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN GHANA FOR SAFEKEEPING AND FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT, HE TOLD ME, HE DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF THE BOX TO ANYBODY TO AVOID RAISING EYEBROW FROM THE COMPANY OFFICIALS.
I'M SOLICITING FOR YOUR HAND IN PARTNERSHIP AS TO COME UP SO THAT WE CAN BOTH THINK OF A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT TO START WITH THIS FUNDS IN YOUR COUNTRY. I HAVE NOT HANDLE SUCH A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY BEFORE, I ALSO DON'T INTEND TO INVEST THIS MONEY HERE IN AFRICA AND I AM NOT INTO BUSINESS, THEREFORE I NEED A HELPING HAND AS TO INVEST THIS MONEY .
I WANT YOU TO HELP ME AND MY MOTHER THUS
(1)ACTING AS MY GUARDIAN WHILE I CONTINUE MY EDUCATION IN YOUR COUNTRY
(2) BE MY SOLE BENEFACTOR WHERE YOU WILL INVEST THIS MONEY FOR US
THE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THIS DEPOSITING OF THE CONSIGNMENT ARE INTACT WITH ME, I SHALL SEND THEM TO YOU FOR PROOF AS SOON AS YOU INDICATE YOUR INTEREST IN GOING INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM STANDS AS YOUR COMMISSION AS SOON AS THE MONEY IS OUT FROM AFRICA AND I WILL SET ASIDE 5% FOR ANY EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION. I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSE THIS TO ANY ONE ACCEPT YOU AND I WANT YOU TO KEEP MY DISCUSSION SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL.
YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED GOD BLESS YOU.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MICHAEL KAGAME


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