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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: "Thomas Ankra" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomasankra827@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 05:22:37 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY !!

ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICA STATES(ECOWAS)
APPROVED/DESIGNATED OFFICE FOR
FOREIGN DEBT VERIFICATION, RECONCILIATION, SETTLEMENT/PAYMENT
USHEER, TOWN
ACCRA, GHANA.
 
Sir,
 
RE: PAYMENT OF US3, 800,000 TO FOREIGN BENEFICIARY AS INITIAL PAYMENT FOR OVERDUE FUND
 
 
 
Attention: Beneficiary,
 
I am Mr. Thomas Ankra I have the mandate and full authority from a super ceding authority to verify your transaction and subsequently release/transfer your overdue funds into your nominated bank account if no irregularity is uncovered during the process of verification.
 
As you may rightly want to know, this development was necessitated as a result of massive outcry/complaint from bona fide foreign beneficiaries globally on the issue of delay, hindrances and repeated problems on foreign payments which also includes attachment of difficult and unfavourable conditions from agencies, authorities and financial institutions within ECO WAS region which in no small measures contributed as an obstacle to foreign beneficiaries in receiving their funds.
 
In order to proffer a lasting and sustainable solution to these problems the ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES OF WEST AFRICA STATES(ECO WAS) had to wedge into the matter by setting up a panel to review and submit report on this sensitive issues in order to remedy the situation and also to redeem the lost image of ECO WAS region.
 
In line with the report of the panel, all charges, fees and unnecessary payments which beneficiaries were liable to for one reason or the other have been cancelled and a total sum of US$3,800,000(Three million, eight hundred US Dollars) have been earmarked as initial payment for every affected beneficiaries. Therefore, the only thing you need to do as a foreign beneficiary of the said funds from any ECO WAS country is to procure a TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(TIN) in accordance with the new directives.
 
Further, note that Ghana has been appointed as the only authorized payment centre because of its position as a sanitized and peaceful nation, this means that all payments originally sourced and accrued from all countries within the ECO WAS country have been channeled to Ghana for onward transfer to qualified foreign beneficiaries.
 
 
We have been instructed to conclude the entire exercise on or before the 1st quarter of year 2014. Any beneficiary who fails to meet up within the stipulated period would have his/her funds paid into the ECO WAS treasury as unclaimed fund.
 
 
Finally, to help us commence with the process of transfer in accordance with the new directives you will be required to send us useful details as stated below for reconfirmation in order to avoid wrong payment/transfer.
 
1. FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS:
2.  TELEPHONE NUMBER:
3. TOTAL AMOUNT DUE:
4. SOURCE OF PAYMENT:
5. OCCUPATION:
6. DATE OF BIRTH
7. BANK DETAILS:
 
I await your prompt response.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Thomas Ankra

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