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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: "Karen Walter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <karen_walter20008@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 06:00:09 -0700
Subject: Dear Respectful One

Dear Respectful,

Warm greetings to you and your family in the name of God. I am aware
that this is not a formal approach in starting a relationship, but
as time goes on, you will realize the need for my approach. My
email to you will come as as a surprise since i don't know you in
person. But if this message comes to you out of your wish, i am very
sorry. I hope that you will read through this email and understand
how difficult things can be for someone in a particular period in
life.

My name is Karen i am 23 years now, i was a student in the
University of Ghana I am the only daughter of late Chief Jonas
Walter who just recently die in Italy earthquake last few month
which you heard about it my parents is among them there in Italy.
And before he travel he has $9 Million U.S.D (Nine million dollars.)
in one of the financial bank here in Ghana which I am the next of
kin as the . My dad has planed to purchase and import some cocoa
processing machines and the development of another factory,
unfortunately he did not meet his target before his untimely death,
The reason why i contacted you for help is due to the agreement my
late father had with the bank during the deposit of the money.

I have suffered in so much pain since i lost my parents. So i have
decided to go out of this country and invest in your country if you
will accept to provide an account where the bank will transfer the
money through to your account directly if you can not come here. Why
i contacted you is that i don’t know anything about investor or
business so you can help me invest it while i will be with you to
further my education.

Please, if you will help me realize this transfer and get me out of
this pain reply me, You will have 25% of the total money as
compensation for your effort, Please i am begging you to help me by
indicating your interest in your reply to this mail if willing.
Please reply to this email: karen_walter20008@yahoo.com.hk
Thanks and may God bless you,

This is what the bank needs to transfer the money to your account.
1. Your telephone number.
2. Your office or home address.
3. A copy of your picture for identification purpose.
4. Your account number.


Yours Sincerely
Karen Walter.


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