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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: "Kenneth Owusu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kenneth_54@live.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:30:58 +0100
Subject: From: Mr. Kenneth Owusu Manager.

>From Mr. Kenneth Owusu
I.C.Bank Manager branch
Tel: 00233-242213059
Email: kenneth_54@live.com
 
Greetings to you.
 
My name is Mr. Kenneth Owusu a branch bank manager here in Ghana. After several official enquiries from the foreign trade office of our Chambers of Commerce and Industry, I decided to
contact you directly for assistance.
I am interested to transfer in your country through your assistance. I am in Ghana presently and I have the sum of
Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand US Dollars which I would like to transfer into your account and invest in your
country if possible.
I made this money (US$5,800,000.00) out of my branch office excess profit for the 2007 fiscal year. I choose you because
I cannot be directly involved for I am still working with the bank, I hope you can understand my situation and assist
me to receive and invest this money properly as this is my only hope. You will get 30% of the total fund as commission
for your sympathetic co-operation while 70% will be for me.
If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response.
Best regards,
Mr. Kenneth Owusu.

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