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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • yewosafomaafo@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Maafo@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:03:48 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?THANKS?=

Dear partner,

I am Mr. Yew Osafo Maafo,former minister of education Ghana writing to inform
you of my desire to transfer 9 million British pounds into your account
for investment in your country. If you would agree to assist me to invest
my fund in your country , as my overseas partner to acquire space, house,
estates, or landed properties in your country.

Considering my very strategic and influential position, in the country i
would want the transaction to be as strictly confidential as possible. I
further want my identity to remain undisclosed at least for now, until the
completion of the transaction. I therefore would like to know your capability
to handle this transaction with utmost trust and sincerity.

I need your trust and co-operation to seeing that this transaction is a
success. Note that I am willing to offer you 20% as your Commission entitlement
if you agree to assist me to make this investment a reality, As matter of
fact, the reason of dropping this few words to you is because of the need
to invest in your country through your assistance. Already I have made every
arrangement on how the money will be transferred or delivered to You , depending
on how you might want it and also i will be sending my son to meet you in
your country to discuss with you hence I am not permitted to travel for
now.

I therefore ask that you to assure me in confidence your capability to handle
and keep this transaction as a top secret because of my position as former
education minister in the country, this investment, in addition I will advice
you send to me your private telephone and fax number to enable me speak
with you heart to heart. I will appreciate to a brief details and ideas
about government taxes in your country .

Please for further details contact me on my privatemail.
yewosafomaafo@yahoo.com
I am sending you this website below to read and understand my circumstances.


http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=103713

Regards

Mr. Yew Osafo Maafo

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam