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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Koffi John Mensah" <kofijmensah_icb@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: kofijmensah_icb@excite.com
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 17:24:48 +0000
Subject: PLEASE REPLY ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE


HEADQUARTER,
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK,
NO: 365/5 HIGH STREET,
ACCRA-GHANA


DEAR Friend,

First, I'm soliciting your utmost confidentiality in this Transaction. I am Mr.Kofi J.Mensah, credit officer with I.C.B. Accra-Ghana. I came to you in my private search for a reliable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves huge sum of money to your country.
The Proposition:A foreigner an American, late Mr. Morris Thompson (SNR) who died on February 4th, 2000 board Alaska Airlines Flight 261. Alongside other 87 passengers.
Please view the website below for verification.
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/
http://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/mThompson.html,
while returning to his country from a business trip. He Banked with us at ICB Accra-Ghana and had a closing balance worth US$7.6,Million, having heard of the tragic incident involving late Mr.Morris Thompson (SNR) the bank now expects a next of kin as beneficiary.Valuable efforts have been made by International Commercial Bank to get in touch with any of his family's but I personally found out that he until his death neither had wife nor children that is known to us.


Meanwhile this is the website of the people that died in the Alaska Airlines Flight 261, The only name of next of kin given to us by late Mar Morris Thompson unfortunately was with him in the same flight that crashed, and this is unknown to the bank. I'm taking this advantage in order to better my life and that of my family, I now decided to seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to late Mr. Morris Thompson, so that the fund (US$7.6M) will be released in to your account as the next of kin. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out, by the lawyer that I will employ to work with me down here on your behalf.
I am assuring you that this transaction and its procedures is 100% legal and risk free involvement.Your share stays while the rest will be for myself. The sharing of the fund between the two of us will be as follows: 30% of the total sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the success of this transaction. 65% will be for us here. While 5% as been set aside for expenses incurred in due process of this transaction.As soon as I receive acknowledge of the receipt of this message in Acceptance, I will immediately start up with the process. If this proposal is acceptable by you, kindly get to me. I want you to also furnish me with your private telephone/fax or preferably your mobile numbers, address and I will have to apply for the release and subsequent Transfer of the fund in your favor.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR LAST NAME OR COUNTRY DOES NOT AFFECT ANYTHING AS A NEXT OF KIN,NEED NOT BE A DIRECT RELATIVE OF THE DECEASED,IT IS A LEGALL BINDING LAW IN THE CONSTITUTION OF ANY COUNTRY,ALSO,YOUR NATIONALITY SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM TOO.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
Yours faithfully,
Mr.Kofi J.Mensah.
(Credit Officer, ICB,Accra-Ghana)
 


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