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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: "Mrs. Felicia Duffour," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <a.okaiscb@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2012 02:37:41 +0100
Subject: Use Your Full Name (AS SUBJECT) On Your Reply to Avoid Wrong Payment.

Attention: You Relative/Cousin.

This is to notify you about a testament (WILL) left in your favour being next of kin to a deceased who have not received his contract sum of US$20.7M (Twenty Million, Seven Hundred Thousand US Dollars) from our Ministry (GNPC) before he died. Deceased name (withheld) until your response confirming we are dealing with the right person whose name appear in deceased testament (WILL) to avoid wrong payment.
Already our Ministry has confirmed deceased testament which stated upon demised his final payment release to you his next of kin. You are advice to contact your late relative Account Officer: DR. ANDREW OKAI, by email (a.okaiscb@yahoo.cn) with the information below for the immediate release of your inheritance payment to any wrong party.

1) Your Full Name & Address.
2) Your Full Contact, Home, office And Mobile Numbers.
3) The Copy of Identification (Your Passport/Drivers license)
4) You're State of Origin.
5) Your office Position, Your Profession.

The deceased account officer shall commence the release of your inheritance fund once you respond with above information as requested. Kindly call (DR. OKAI) on his telephone +233-5420-30681 upon the receipt of this mail.

Please Use Your Name (AS SUBJECT) On Your Reply to Avoid Wrong Payment.
Regards,
Mrs. Felicia Duffour, (Publication & Public Relation officer).
Standard Chartered Bank Ghana & GNPC.
Main Office, P. O. Box GP 768
Accra, Ghana.

Anti-fraud resources: