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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: "Rev. Fr. Solomon Apete." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ms5geh01@yahoo.cn>
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 16:12:43 +0200
Subject: Dearly Beloved,

Dearly Beloved,

My most sincere Greetings to you and the entire members of your family. Before I go further, I would like to introduce myself. I am Rev. Father Solomon Apete of the St Ann Catholic Church, Teshie, Accra Ghana,

I am writing to notify you about a young boy whose name is Paul, a Libya Tripoli by Nationality whose father died in the mission of the rebel fight and was the only surviving son of the father. Although the father was very rich but some of his wealth was looted after his death, leaving the child to suffer.

However, it was later noticed that the father while he was alive deposited the sum amounting to 12.5million United State Dollar with a security company here in Ghana. And when the boy came to Ghana, he contacted our Charity Organization where we listened to him, consider his documents and personally visited the security company to ascertain the fact. It was after checking on it that we drew arrangement to helping him to retrieve the consignment. As he agreed that upon
sponsoring him, he will give 10% of the fund to charity here as he will be traveling abroad for his education and investment to leave the rest of his life having
been dealt badly with in Africa.

We have through the mercy of the most High God secured the consignment and it is presently in my house, so, I deemed it very necessary to try and
have a very good, honest and God fearing heart who will help me to receive both the young star and the consignment, and make life worth living for the young boy again. It was at this stage I decided to contact you.


So, I want you to solemnly confirm to me if you can sincerely handle this in good faith and take the young boy as your son, help him legally receive the money as I will personally take care of the transfer process either through the Banking system or even use my missionary influence to deliver the consignment to you in your
country.

Get back to me with your interest and as soon as the young boy arrive, you shall reach agreement with him on establishing charity organization there, that shall be recognized worldwide in the Catholic faith.


I pray that the divine grace of the Almighty God guide you in making this choice and may the peace of the Lord be with you and your family.

I am waiting to hear from you soon.

Yours in the Lord,


Rev. Fr. Solomon Apete.

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