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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: "MR.MICHAEL OWUSU" <mailmowusu69@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mailmowusu010@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 07:58:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: VERY URGENT


Barclays BankLimited
Accra Ghana
Dakar Branch
Box:1414
Mr.Michael Owusu
Mananger.
...............................................
MY NAME IS MR.MICHAEL OWUSU, I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAYS BANK GHANA LTD,OF DAKAR BRANCH IN THE WESTERN REGION OF TAKORADI.I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH, I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS. I AM A DEVOTED GOOD CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF PEACE AND TRUSTY.

I HAVE PACKAGED THIS FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I,AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE BARCLAYS BANK IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN A FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF ACCRA GHANA AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR.

ON THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR 2006 BUSINESS REPORT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE FIVE MILLION, US DOLLARS($5,MILLION DOLLARS) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF.

I PLACED IT IN WHAT WE CALL ESCROW ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY NAME. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS FUND, SO WITH DUE RESPECT AS MY AIM.IAM CONTACTING YOU TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 20% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION.

THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED, IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER, ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUNDS WHO MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT.

IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL BE APPRECIATED.GET BACK TO ME AS SOONEST SO THAT WE MOVE OVER THE DETAILS.

I WILL PROVIDE MY PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS ON YOUR REQUEST.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.



YOURS TRULY,
MR.MICHAEL OWUSU.


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