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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: "kwamw keita" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <donnyvicky@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:26:19 -0400
Subject: URGENT!!! PLEASE READ

Dear friend,
 
How are you today???
 
It might interest you to know how I got your contact. Well it is for good and I got your contact through my private search in the internet for a matured and reliable foreign partner. I am a banker working with one of the reputable banks here in Accra, the capital of Ghana. For a very long time now I have been in exclusive custody of private banking information of one of our banks customers; a Lebanese who was running gold and diamond business here in Accra but unfortunately died in a plane crash along with his family without leaving any written [WILL].
 
I have made several unsuccessful efforts over the years to locate any relation of his but to no avail, and the time is approaching when the bank might recycle it into the banks assets as unclaimed fund. The amount is involved is $85,000,000 and the main essence of my communication with you is to seek your cooperation in recovering this fund with 100 percent perfection considering the action plan I have set up.
 
There are a lot of bad people trying to say they have some money they want to shift to foreign countries which are lies. Before you can transfer such amount of money the bank official and bank services must be involved. These bad people will convince you into joining them in an illegal activity without your knowledge. I will give you direct contact of the bank so you can make all the enquires you need and all the necessary verifications. l will like it if you can  come down here in Africa to meet with the bank and also know that this is a serious transaction
 
 
I can facilitate the release of this money within 21 banking days, providing to you the correct paperwork as the entitled beneficiary of the fund. I want you to do this business with me and we will agree on the percentage to donate to charity and to help the less privilege in both your country and in my country anonymously. Then with the remaining fund we may either enter into 50/50 joint investment in your country with the fund under your management if you will agree, we shall share it 40/60 for you and I respectively while 10 percent will be set aside to offset the overall cost of the transaction.
 
Let me assure you once again that this business will not last more than 21 days and I will apply for a leave on health ground in order to be granted an opportunity by my bank to stay away from work. That will be my chance to visit you in your country for reimbursement or signing of investment partnership contract.
 
Please note that this business is free from risk but needs uttermost confidentiality. Immediately the fund is transferred I will enter our transaction archive room to retrieve and destroy all evidence of the transaction and there will be no trace to any place.
 
Eagerly waiting for your response,
 
Mr. Kwame keita

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