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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: Philip Johnson <philipjohnson1980@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 16:50:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Sir, Can we trust you for investment in your country?


Dear  Sir,
 
Having seen your profile from INFONET, I am interested in your line of business and I
need your assistance and experience to setup some investments in your
country.

Your country is a very beautiful place and holds
fantastic investment opportunities for foreigners,so I and my younger
intend entrust you with 50kgs of gold dust and also to invest a total of US$8.5m specifically in your country  in
Real Estates,Restaurants and Rental business.

We are an orphans,
my name is Prince Philip Johnson 17 years of age and my younger sister
is Princess Johnson 15 years of age. We are from  Liberia but reside
here in Ghana as refugees.We want to secure our future with these
investments and you will be entitled to a percentage of the
investments,if you can help and guide us.Also let me know if you have
knowledge of any other
business that can give good profits within a reasonable short period of
time.
 
We have our inheritance box here in
Ghana which our late father, His Royal Highness King Musinga
Johnson of Kreo Community in Liberia deposited here for safekeeping
purpose due to the war situation in our country over the years. The box
contain $8.5 million dollars, but the security company doesn't know the
exact contents because our father deposited them as "FAMILY VALUABLES".
 
My questions are these below:
 
1.
Please can you receive these box of our inheritance fund for us as our
foreign guardian and trustee and invest invest it in your company?
2. Can we trust you in helping us?
3. What percentage do you think that will be ok for you?
 
To
prove what am telling you and for us to build trust, I and my sister
crossed our minds and attached the vital documents which were issued to
our father the day the deposit was made, so that you can confirm things
for yourself, the burial picture of our late father is also attached
including the picture of the fund for you to see, the deposit
certificate, deposit
mandate, also Anti-Terrorist/Drug Certificate. We took this bold step
with great faith in God and believe that you will listen to us and help
us, so that we can join you in your country and continue our education
which is our number one priority.
 
Please think about this and
reply us as soon as possible for us to know what to do immediately. Can
you come to Ghana or do you want the consignment to deliver to you there
in your door step through United Nations private Jet pilot? If you can
come to Ghana for meeting on your arrival here, lawyer will secure power
of attorney and change of ownership. Then if you can't come,  it will
require you change of ownership with power of attorney which lawyer will
secure in your name as our family trustee to enable the security
company release the deposit in your name to be deliver to your step. If
your serious or interested,
 
Have a blessed good day and God bless us till we hear from you. Our sincere regards to your family.
 
Respectfully
 
Prince Philip Johnson.

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