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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: samuel ofori <oforisamuel24@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:57:20 +0000
Subject: Beloved in the Lord

Beloved in the Lord
I wish to bring a good news to you that will give glory to God and also
rewards within the period of seven working days. I am a Banker in Eco Bank
Ghana Limited and Mr.Denis Parsons was my late Customer and also an oil
dealer who was processing funds transfer before he died out of illness,I'm
his bank account officer and his documents with me does not have Next of
kin as he explained to me the betrayal of his wife and family,furthermore,
he instructed me to get foreign partner who will assist me in executing his
last wish because he asked me to invest 70% of his fund to charity homes
and churches around the world including your country home,meanwhile our
bank awaits the presentation of a foreign partner or the right person who
is going to execute his last wish by investing in charity homes, poor
people and churches. His account balance is Three million four hundred and
five thousand united states dollars only ,I will present you as his next of
kin for us to claim the funds and do his last wish then share the rest of
the fund among us,No Risk because i am directly involved. Contact me on my
private email address with your full name,address, mobile phone number,
age, and nationality,because this transaction should be very confidential :
Best Regards.
Samuel

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