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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: "John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <koffi.john200@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 14:11:20 +0100
Subject: Urgent Response Needed

Attn: Mr.
 
My name is Mr. John Koffi a superintendent of customs with  Customs exercise and preventive services (CEPS) Ghana.
Having said that, i earlier wrote to you about my willingness in getting/acquiring a property in your country and this is the Deal that i am banking on to be able to achieve that, since i will soon be going on retirement.
Nevertheless, i am writing to seek your indulgence and alliance toward some consignments delivery that will be beneficial to both of us or any other person that is concerned.
You may be aware of proliferation's of consignments/funds in our International airport, and across the borders for the past few years and most especially nowadays that they have been chaos in Africa. My men have since the past years and most recently weeks intercepted some huge quantities (money) in Trunk boxes currently in the Police warehouse.
Some rightful owners have since applied for claim and their consignments were delivered to their choice of destinations by this office. Some of the consignments are yet to be claim since we do not have the rightful owners contact address or phone numbers.
The Government has mandated my office to make sure all consignments are delivered to their owners on or before the end of June or risk forfeiture. You should be aware that when such consignments are being seized by the Government, the funds which are the contents of the consignments are diverted to arms purchase which is normally the root causes of war in Africa.
I am therefore using this opportunity to solicit for your partnership to move the remaining consignments which are unclaimed to a destination where you have to receive them and later I join you for final disbursement.
The sharing ratio will be 60/40 of the consignments contents worth the sum of Twelve Million United States Dollars (US$12,000,000.00) only in cash, 60% to me while 40% goes to you. my share i will use in buying a property or building with in your country under your guidance
Please I want you to keep this proposal very confidential to yourself because of my status in the Government of Ghana Customs and Exercise.
You are advised to reply to this email as soon as possible if you are interested or not. However, if you are not interested,
please also keep it very confidential and disregards it. All arrangement as regards the delivery will be put in place as soon as I receive your nod. Further response should be directed to koffijohn@live.com
 
I wait to hear from you as soon as possible.
Yours truly,
John Koffi
+233 54240441

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