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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 Kwesi" <mrmichaelkwesi7@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrmichaelkwesi1@yahoo.cn
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 21:06:53 +0100
Subject: RE: SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$7.500 MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.


DEAR Sir,


MY NAME IS MR MICHAEL KWESI. I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA LTD IN THE EASTERN REGION OF GHANA. I WRITE YOU THIS
PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH. I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO LOVELY KIDS.

I AM A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF PEACE. I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL
TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I. IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN A
FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL CITY ACCRA AT THE END OF
EACH BUSINESS YEAR. IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR BUSINESS REPORT. I
DISCOVERED THAT MY REGION IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE SEVEN MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($7, 500.000.00) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE
ARE NOT AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF IT.

I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT WE CALL ESCROW / SUNDRY ACCOUNT WITH NO
BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CAN NOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO
THIS MONEY. SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY
IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 25% 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 CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND
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 APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. REPLY ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL BELOW IF YOU
THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS. CONTACT ME
IMMEDIATELY AND ONLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS .

THANKS IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
YOURS TRULY .

MR, MICHAEL KWESI.

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