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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: koffi.kwame5@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:42:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Greetings.


Greetings,

I humbly seek your services in a confidential matter regarding some funds, five million five hundred thousand US Dollars ($5,500,000.00) unaccounted for in our bank, during the last 2011 business year. As the Regional Manager of this Bank, I deposited this fund in an ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT in our Headquarters at Accra. Now, I need the assistance of a trustworthy person whom I shall fill in as the original beneficiary of these funds. Your major role would be to provide a bank account where the funds will be transferred through a legal means. You will have 30% of these funds as your share at the end of this transaction.
 
What prompted this deal is because I have a 61-year old mother who has leukemia, blood cancer. She needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life. I want this transplanting done in any good hospital in your country. I shall resign from my job and bring my family to start a new life and invest in your country when this transfer is done.
 
You are the only one I have contacted for this business, Please if you are interested in assisting me get back to me immediately please.

Best regards,
Mr. Koffi Kwame.

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