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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: Wilson Owusu <meadns@cap.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Wilson Owusu <wilsonowusu233@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:31:58 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT CONFIRMATION IS NEEDED.

Eng. Wilson Owusu
Ministry of Energy.
Plot 2008 Castle Road.
Osu, Accra Ghana.

Good day to you and Merry Christmas to you and your family, I am very sorry to have contacted you via these mode of communication (internet) with these proposal of mine, by way of formal introduction, I am Wilson Owusu, a Director of the Contracts Award and review Department, with the Ghana Ministry of energy (M.O.E). I am contacting you for an urgent and important business dealing, which will be beneficial to both of us in the short run, and without any risks or regrets as regards this would be business dealing.

I don't know if I can confide in you, though we may be in two different part of the world, but that is what I actually needed in a partner, someone from a distant place or country. please do revert back to me if you think we can work for the good of both of us and in good faith, as that will enable me to let you into the project proper.

Please do send to me, your reliable or direct information as demanded below in your next email, to enable us talk in confidence about this proposal, and you should know that my proposal does not meet your consent standard, I will appeal that you delete the email and disregard the content.

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR ADDRESS
3. YOUR MOBILE PHONE NUMBER

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks.
Wilson Owusu.

Anti-fraud resources: