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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: Edward Addo <edwardaddo25@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mredward1000001@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:17:55 -0700
Subject: Best Regard" From Edward Please Reply Back

--
Good-Day,

My name is Mr Edward Addo, a politician and a previous member of Ghana's
executive committee on contract awards.

My purpose of connecting you is to crave your indulgence to assist me in
securing some funds abroad for safe keeping which I incidentally kept to
help me finance my senatorial elections campaign under the party umbrella
of National Patriotic Party (NPP) last two year December 2012, cted
election primary to my opposition member under the same party umbrella.

But with my immediate contact, I was able to deposit some kickback money
emanated from award of contracts awarded to Chinese and Malaysia companies
in a security vault with a commercial bank in Ghana pending when I will
found a trustworthy person to move out the fund from Ghana
to oversea bank account for business investment.

The need to contact you arose from the fact that the present elected
government now to crack down on past immediate government functionaries of
(NPP) and trying to trace all the funds that was made through contract
awards and other mouth watering deals during our tenure in the office from
the year 2000 to 2008, if they succeed in tracing this fund to me, they
will seize it and thereby incapacitating my life time opportunities.

I wish to relocate this fund in a foreigner's name to avoid any trace. All
I need from you is an assurance that you can handle the amount involved
(US$19,500,000) comfortably and that I can also trust you.

Be fully rest assured that there is no risk involved. I want you to
immediately inform me of your willingness in assisting and co-operating
with me, so that I can send you full details of this transaction.

Yours faithfully,
Edward Addo.

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