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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: "kelvink2" <kelvink2@terra.com.mx>
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 10:09:08 -0600
Subject: Reply Asap.


FROM KELVIN CHAMBER & ASSOCIATE
Suite 52,Saka Plaza,Accra Ghana.
Private Email:barristerkelvinkofi2005@yahoo.ca
Dear Friend,
I am Barr.Kelvin Kofi personal attorney to late Eng.Philip B,a national of your country, who use to work with zenon gold minning company here in Accra Ghana, herein after, shall be referred to as my client. My client with his entire family were travelling to another city of ghana on 22nd of August 2004 for a tourism visit and unfortunately they were involved in a car accident that occure along accra express way and unfortunately my client and his entire family lost their lives in that auto crash that needed not to have happened.
Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this proved unsuccessful After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail,hence I contacted you. My purpose of contacting you is to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client prior to his death before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged and where the deceased had an account valued at about US$10.5 Million dollars. The guidelines of the bank stipulates that if any deposit remained unclaimed for over a period of 2 years and few months, without the fund claimed, the said deposit will be confiscated and this will happen with some couple of official working months if nobody comes for the money. The company had issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$10.5million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money 55% for me and 45% for you. I will secure certificate of deposit and other
relevant approvals documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see
this deal through. I guarantee that this transaction will be executed legitimately to protect you from any breach of the law.
Looking forward to hear from you soonest.
With best regards,
Barr. Kelvin Kofi.
Reply Asap.
NB:Pls include to me your private telphone and fax numbers in your response.

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