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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: "Agbedor." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamesk.agbedor@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2015 13:45:37 +0100
Subject: .I await information about you and look forward for prompt reply from you.

 
 
 
 
Dear Sir,
I am contacting you in the belief that you are a honest and trustworthy person.
I hope you will not betray the confidence I have in you to have contacted you
even though we've not met before, Besides I only got your address from the
internet listing.
 
 
I am Mr. James K. Agbedor the general counsel and board secretary of
Agricultural Development Bank Ghana, I promise to disclose more information
as soon as I am convinced that you are capable and willing to assist me with
this transaction.
 
Mr. CHARLES SMALLENBURG a Netherlands who was the managing director of a mining
company in Ghana and this company has been a household name in the downstream
sector for its professional service provision especially in the late 90s, but
after the death of Mr. CHARLES SMALLENBURG in the resent MH17 crash things
change, the disease open an account with us eight year back then I was his
account officer, the net balance on this account till date is $45m Forty Five
Million United State Dollars, Mr. CHARLES SMALLENBURG did not provide any name
to benefit him as next of kin to the bank.
 
So all I want you to do is to collaborate with me by standing in as the
beneficiary because the Management is ready to approve the remittance of the
money to any foreigner who has correct information of this account. Beside I
would use my position to facilitate prompt remittance of the fund, if for any
reason you think you're incapable of this transaction you may recommend anybody
whose integrity is not in doubt, I shall however provide you with directives on
what to do as we proceed.
 
 
As soon as I get this information and I am convinced that you are capable of doing
this transaction I will consult a probate lawyer on your behalf as the beneficiary
for the drafting and notarization and I will also obtain the necessary documents
and letter of Probate/Administration in your favor so as to put you in better
position as the beneficiary.
 
 
Please you have to be elaborate in your profile to enable me make a good assessment
about your desirability. I also need strong assurances from you to the effect that
you can guarantee the safety of the money when it gets to your account. However,
 
 
I want you to understand that as a man of strong character it beats my conscience
that I have to do this deal for one strong reason, which is to plan ahead of my
retirement few months from now,
 
 
In view of this you may be approached after the
transfer to provide me with investment advice as I plan to invest the fund in any
lucrative venture after retirement, at the conclusion of this business I shall
travel to your country for sharing, I have mapped out 40% of the total amount for
your assistant and 5% for all expenses from both party and the remain keep for me.
 
 
I await information about you and look forward for prompt reply from you.
 
 
Warmest Regards
Agbedor.
 

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