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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. Sampson Kwame" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsamsonkwame@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:50:20 -0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

>From Sampson Kwame

Dear Friend,

My name is Sampson Kwame I am the regional manager of Standard chartered bank of Ghana tarkwa branch in the western region of
Ghana. I got your information when i was searching for an oversea partner among other names. I write you this proposal in good faith; I am 44 years old married with three lovely kids. I am a devoted Christian and a man of peace.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I, as the regional manager of the Standard chartered bank 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. On the course of the last year 2009 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made four million three hundred united state dollars (4.3m)usd which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I
have placed this funds on what we call escrow call account with no beneficiary.

As an officer of this bank I cannot 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 40% of the total funds as commission. There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these 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 appreciate it very much. when i hear from you, i will give you my full information. Remember there is no risk involved i promise.

I will await your positive response towards my message.

God Bless,
Mr. Sampson Kwame.

Anti-fraud resources: