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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: Johnson Essien <essie_h4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ohnsonessien@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 17:08:41 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE



FROM:Mr JOHNSON ESSIEN.THE MANAGER UNITED BANKOF AFRICA GHANA. (UBA)FIRST LIGHT KANESHIE BRANCH. ACCRA GHANA.
DEAR FRIEND, 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.JOHNSON ESSIEN. I AM THE MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA,FIRST LIGHT KANESHIE BRANCH.I AM WRITING TO SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER OF US$10,500,000.00.(TEN MILLIOM FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY). THIS FUND IS THE EXCESS OF WHAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE AS PROFIT DURING THE LAST YEAR 2006. 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$10,500,000.00.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 REQUEST 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. AFTER RECEIVING YOUR REPLY,YOU WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO WITH THE EXACT STEPS TO TAKE.I EXPECT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE AND I SHALL CONTACT YOU FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER,TO ENABLE US CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION URGENTLY WITHOUT ANY DELAY OR HITCH. WHEN REPLYING INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US. DO TREAT THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL FOR SECURITY REASONS CONSIDERING MY OFFICIAL POSITION IN THE BANK. PERSONAL REGARDS,MR.JOHNSON ESSIEN.

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