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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: DR FRANK KOFI <frank_1kofi@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 06:10:29 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT REPLY


DEAR FRIEND,
MY NAME IS MR FRANK KOFI, I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAYS BANK GHANA LTD,OF DAKAR BRANCH IN THE WESTERN REGION OF TAKORADI. I GOT YOUR INFORMATION ON A RECENT BANK CONFERENCE WITH OTHER WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES HELD IN LOME THE CAPITAL CITY OF TOGO IN WEST AFRICA. I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH, I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS. I AM A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF PEACE.
I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I,AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE BARCLAYS BANK 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 2003 BUSINESS REPORT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE FIVE MILLION, US DOLLARS($5, MILLION DOLLARS WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE
AWARE OF.
I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT WE CALL ESCROW ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY, SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 20% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION. THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED, IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER, ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUNDS 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. 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.I WILL PROVIDE MY PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS ON YOUR REQUEST,YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON MY RIVATE E-MAIL BOX: frank_kofi@yahoo.comTHANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
YOURS TRULY
DR FRANK KOFI
__________________________________________________
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