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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: koffour kotey <kmarkkotey5@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: koffkotey03@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:40:56 -0500 (EST)
Subject: READ YOUR EMAIL PLEASE.


This email is privileged and contains confidential information intended only for the person named above. Any other distribution, copying or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email by error, please notify the sender immediately or delete any electronic hard copy. Thank you.
......................................................

FROM: MR. KOFFOUR KOTEY.
THE MANAGER INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA
FIRST LIGHT BRANCH
ACCRA, GHANA.

ATTN:
FIRST I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION, THIS IS BY VITURE OF ITS NATURE AS IT WAS UTTERLY CONFIDENCIAL AND A TOP SECRET. THOUGH I KNOW THAT A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL MAKE ANY ONE APPREHENSIVE AND WORRIED,BUT I AM ASSURING YOU THAT ITHIS IS REAL AND GENUINE.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, HONEST AND A TRUST WORTHY PERSON TO ENTRUST THIS HUGE TRANSFER PROJECT WITH.
MY NAME IS MR. KOFFOUR KOTEY. I AM THE MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA, FIRST LIGHT BRANCH. I AM A GHANAIAN MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS.

I AM WRITING TO SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER OF US$3.500.000.00. THIS FUND IS THE EXCESS OF WHAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE AS PROFIT DURING THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED AN APPROVED END OF THE YEAR REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2006 TO MY HEAD OFFICE HERE IN ACCRA AND THEY WILL NEVER KNOW OF THIS EXCESS. I HAVE SINCE THEN, PLACED THIS AMOUNT OF US$3.500.000.00. ON A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT WITHOUT A BENEFICIARY.

AS AN OFFICER OF THE BANK, I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY THUS I AM IMPELLED TO REQUES T FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
I INTEND TO PART 30% OF THIS FUND TO YOU WHILE 70% SHALL BE FOR ME. I DO NEED TO STRESS THAT THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED IN THIS. IT'S GOING TO BE A BANK-TO-BANK TRANSFER. ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND.

IF YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER, I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE. PLEASE RESPONSE TO THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS : koffkotey03@hotmail.com


WITH REGARDS,
MR KOFFOUR KOTEY.


---------------------------------
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