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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: "Mensah Simeon .Y" <mensah---97643216@att.net>
Reply-To: trustm1@ozu.es
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 14:36:53 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT INFORMATION FOR YOU




Dear Friend,
To introduce myself,i am Mr.Mensah Simeon Yeboah,i work in the managerial position witha bank in Accra,Ghana,i will not like to take you time here,the issue is i have puttogether a financial transaction which i strongly believe will benefit the both of us,and this is without risk as i have thought over it and hence will like you to partnerwith me.
Carrying out my duties in the bank last fiscal year ending December,2010,i found out thebranch had an excess of FIVE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS (US$5,750,000) which i place a fixed/suspended account,watching if anyone will come for it but no one have,i will ask that you stand as the depositor.
Since i work for the bank i am not suppose to be directly connected to this,that is why ihave contacted you to partner with me,the money when transferred into your account will beshared on this ratio: 70% FOR ME AND 30% FOR YOU.
Friend,if you accept this offer,i will be very glad,as soon as i receive your reply i willthen detail you more on how we can successfully achieve this,meanwhile please let me haveyour information such as:
Your full name:Your Age:Direct Mobile Number:Address:Occupation:Nationality:Country of Residence:
Best regards,Mensah Simeon.Y.

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