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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: Mr Jonathan Osei <as_osei@walla.com>
Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:18:16 +0400
Subject: From Osei. (reply)


From Barr. Jonathan Osei
Accra- Ghana , West Africa .
Email: as_osei1@yahoo.com
Attention: Sir/Madam,
I am Barr. Jonathan Osei the property consultant of late Mr. Chien Chi-min, I base in Ghana, I am making this contact with you based on the need for an individual / company who is willing to assist us with a solution to a money transfer.
First and foremost, I apologized using this medium to reach you for a transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium. In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a respected and honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity, trust and confidentiality. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction.
There is an account opened in this bank, INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK, GHANA LTD, in 1996 and till 2005 nobody has operated on this account again, After going through some old files in the records I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing.
The owner of this account is late Mr. Chien Chi-min, head of the Department of Economic Research, a foreigner, a shareholder in a Gold Mining Company here in Ghana, and a Geologist by profession and he died since February 16, 1998, No other person knows about this account or anything concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know anything about this account and the money involved is Twenty
Million five hundred thousand United States Dollars (US$ 20,500,000 Million).
We are seeking your assistance as a foreigner, since as civil servants we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts. Should you be willing to assist in this transaction?, your share as compensation will be US$5.125m (25%), while my colleagues and I will receive US$13.325m (65%) and the balance of US$2.5m (10%) will be for miscellaneous expenses that may be incurred by either parties.
The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with utmost confidentiality. Your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction. We have reposed confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint us.
I intend to invest this money into property business in your country, such as real estate, hotels living homes for me and my family.
Kindly notify me by sending your secured telephone and fax numbers for further details upon your acceptance of this proposal.
Thank you in anticipation of your co-operation.
Regards,
Barr. Jonathan Osei
Please View this website: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9802/16/taiwan.crash.update2




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