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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: "FROM ENGINEER EMMANUEL KOFI." <emmanuelkofi@myself.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:38:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL.




Good Day,



 



Please I apologize using this
medium to reach you; I am Engineer Emmanuel Kofi, an engineer with the Ministry
of Aviation Republic of Ghana, and also the chairman of the in-house committee that
vetted the various bids submitted by various contracting firms for the
expansion/renovation project of Kotoka International Airport, Accra Ghana and
Kumasi Airport also in Republic of Ghana.



 



The eventual winners of the bid
and executors of the projects had a secret pact with me, to inflate the
contract/project cost to the tune of US$18.5 Million Dollars (Eighteen Million
Five Hundred United State Dollars) as my gratification for assisting them win
the right of execution of these contracts/projects. The contractor had since
completed the contract, and job-completion certificate duly awarded to them.
Furthermore, their payment has also been fully made to them leaving behind the
sum of US$18.5 Million Dollars meant for my gratification which was packaged as
family treasures and deposited in one of the security companies here in my
country Ghana with a fictitious name (Dr. Robert Mumbar) to avoid trace.



 



The problem now is that, as a
senior civil servant, I declare my assets annually which I, in turn submit to
the civil service commission and the state security service for investigation
and clearance. As such, there is no-way that I can defend the US$18.5 Million
Dollars (Eighteen Million Five Hundred United State Dollars) as an addition to
my assets for the year without implicating myself and destroying my impeccable
records achieved over the years. Above all, the civil service “Act” prohibits
every civil servant in my country from operating a foreign account while still
in active public service. Also, I cannot rely on my fellow Ghanaian to assist
me in claiming this fund without exposing myself, and losing claim of the fund.



 



Therefore, I need your assistance
as a foreigner to cooperate with me and front yourself as next of kin to the
depositor of this box/luggage and claim it from the security company where it
is deposited and take 40% as your reward plus cost.



 



Should you be interested, kindly
indicate by forwarding to me your contact address, direct telephone number and
a copy of your I.D for prompt action.



 



However, upon your acceptance, I
shall supply you with all the relevant information and documents regarding to
the deposit of this box/luggage and also guide you on the steps to take for the
claiming of this luggage from the security company where it is deposited.



 



I want to emphasize here that
this deal is free from any form of risk from both parties as great care has
been exercised in perfecting it, and therefore, I enjoin you to approach it
with an open mind and without any fear whatsoever. As a deal, I make haste to
advise that you should be private about it.



 



Yours Faithfully,



Engineer Emmanuel Kofi.




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