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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: Sammy George <greatsammyok@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:43:36 +0100
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL (I NEED YOUR COOPORATION)

Dearest Friend

I decided to write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you
will not betray me. My name is Sammy George, an accounting remittance
officer of Eco Bank Ghana Limited. It may interest you to hear that I
am a man of peace and I only hope we can assist each other. I have
been in search of someone with the help of receiving this funds. When
I saw your name I was pushed to contact you and see how best we can
assist each other believing that you will not betray me. My late
client was a gold and diamond dealer, he made a fixed deposit with my
bank in January 2009 for 36 calendar months, valued at
(US$75,000,000). He was among the death victims while on a business
trip to Indonesia in September 2009 earthquake. That is why I am
seeking your co-operation to present you as the Next of Kin to the
account. Since you are a foreigner and my bank head quarters will
release the funds to you.There is no risk involved.

We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response with
all your personal details including your telephone number.

Anticipating your response.

Mr Sammy George.

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