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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: "Dr. Patricia Ampofo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patricia.ampofo@voila.fr>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 05:02:35 -0000
Subject: CHAIRMAN ECOWAS CONTRACT AWARDING

FROM THE DESK OF Dr. Patricia Ampofo
CHAIRMAN ECOWAS CONTRACT AWARDING
COMMITTEE ECOWAS FUND HEADQUARTERS
P.M.B.5028 ACCRA-REPUBLIC OF GHANA

CHAIRMAN ECOWAS CONTRACT AWARDING COMMITTEE

Attn: Dear,

I am Dr. Patricia Ampofo, Chairman of contract-awarding & auditing committee with Economic Community of West African

States (ECOWAS ORGANIZATION) with its Contract Payment Headquarters here in Accra Ghana. I am making this contact

with you based on trust with sincerity to you. I need an individual/Company owner who is willing to assist me with a

solution to transfer some fund into his bank account.

There is this sum of $45.500,000.00 Only (Forty Five Million and Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. This

amount represents the balance of a total contract value on behalf of ECOWAS Organization for supply of HOSPITAL

EQUIPMENT, HEAVY DUTY OBJECT FOR FUEL REFINERY in Ghana by Foreign Contractors from various Countries.

After this contract was executed and paid by the ECOWAS through my office,I managed to OVER INVOICED or OVER-WRITE

the above sum, of which the original contract sum has been paid to the said Companies and Contractors as their

original contract money remaining this sum of $45.5MILLION DOLLARS in the ECOWAS reserve account.

I Seek your assistance for claim of this awaiting payment in my position. I will use your name and Company as the

last Contractor who is certified to be paid in the tune of the amount.

Should you be willing to assist me in the transaction with sincerity and confidence? Your share of the sum will be

45% out of the $45.5million. 50% for me and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses during transaction, because

there must be some taxes and commissions. To enable us commence,

You should provide the followings for immediate kickoff;

Your company's names with complete address, Telephone and fax numbers.

Thank you and God bless.
Reply through my private email: patricia.ampofo@voila.fr

Yours Faithfully
Dr. Patricia Ampofo

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