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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: Charles Benson <charlesbenson_1017@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: charlesbenson_113@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 05:46:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Greetings




Greetings from Mr. Charles Benson
=A0
I write to seek your services in a private and confidential matter regardin=
g some funds unaccounted for in our bank here in Ghana during the last 2007=
business year. As the regional manager of the bank it is my duty to send i=
n financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end o=
f each business year. On the course of the last year 2007
business report, I discovered that my branch made five million eight hundre=
d and fifty thousand united state dollars ($5,850,000.00) which my head off=
ice is not aware of and will never be aware of.=20
=A0
I deposited this fund in an ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT at our headquarters pending=
when I shall get a reliable person. This requires a private arrangement. C=
ould you perhaps be able to receive these funds under legal claims, then I =
will fill you in. your participation will be 30% of the total money.
=A0
There are practically no risk involved, the transaction shall be executed u=
nder a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the =
law, it will be simply bank-to-bank transfer. I have all the details and wi=
ll fill you in if you are really willing to participate in the transaction.=
Your major role will be to provide an existing account or open a new bank =
account where the funds will be transferred and stand as the original depos=
itor of this fund in our bank, as long as you will remain honest to me till=
the end for this important business trustincg in you and believing that yo=
u will never let me down either now or in future.
=A0
I shall be grateful if you would help me invest my own part of the money in=
a very profitable business. I have worked for this bank for the past 15 ye=
ars yet I have nothing to show for it. I will expect a straight answer from=
you. If yes, please get back to me so that we can work out the modalities =
without further delay. Please you can contact me with this private email ad=
dress charlesbenson1065@gmail.com
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
With best regards,
=A0
Mr. Charles Benson =0A=0A=0A

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