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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: Isaac M <isaacmnsah@outlook.com>
Reply-To: iscmensah@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 08:04:42 +0000
Subject: Re: CONFIDENTIALLY URGENT.

Good Day Friend,

Sorry for writing you without your permission. I am MR ISAAC MENSAH business manager of a leading commercial bank in Ghana. I am writing you because I need your help, the reason I contact you is of utmost secrecy and very paramount to me.
On the 25th of January 2013 MR BARRY BATH a German contractor in my country gave me a certain Amount of money in his hotel room to open a business/corporate account for him; he was unable to complete the documentation for the account opening before he traveled to Germany for his monthly check up. I deposited this money in the banks sundry account were the money was supposed to be until the account is opened.


On 2nd of February 2013 I went to Mr. Barry’s company only to be informed of his demise and that his family had decided to sale the company because none of them want to stay in Africa, my bank is aware of his death because he is very popular, but nobody is aware that he gave me money to open a business account for him before his death.

This money which I deposited with Barry as the depositors name has stayed up to 6 Months in sundry account of the bank and the internal control person (the Auditor) have been on my neck to open the account and move the money. I have made him believe that the owner of the money left the country for business and will be back.


However, I am writing you because I need you to help me stand as the owner of this deposit. I will send you the details of this transaction and the modalities as soon as I receive your positive response through my private mail address below: isaacmnsah@outlook.com

Please kindly include your personal phone number and other contact information in your reply for easy communication and note that we shall both agree on the division ratio before proceeding with the transaction. Thank you in anticipation of your good response.

Best Regards
Mr. Isaac Mensah


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