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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: Mr James Mba <jamessmba@myway.com>
Reply-To: Mr James Mba <jamessmba@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 06:26:16 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Business Inquiry


 Audit Department
International Banking Department
Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development
www.ecowas.int

Sir
Subject: Requesting your co-operation to receive (US$10,500, 000.00 ) Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars inheritance funds into your bank account.

I am Mr. James Mba, a senior staff of the ECOWAS Regional Bank. I am contacting you to solicit your cooperation concerning our customer Walter Hook whose entire family were victims of the devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake that triggered tsunami through Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture Japan on Friday 11th March 2011.

Visit this link for your perusal; http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami

Walter Hook The (deceased) has an account balance of (US$10,500, 000.00 ) Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and about twenty five kilograms alluvial gold deposited in our bank's custody until the unexpected tragedy in Japan that wiped out the family. By privilege of being Walter Hook's personal account supervisor I have his file in my possession and I need your sincere co-operation to transfer these funds to a safe bank account in your country because the (deceased) presently has no next of kin to inherit his estate here.

I do not want to declare these huge sums of money as unclaimed funds which will just be forfeited to the government, and as a staff of the bank I cannot personally claim these funds.

We will successfully wind up the transfer of these funds to your preferred bank account within ambit of law as business associate to Walter Hook the (deceased) through a transparent legal documentation in your name, is rest assured that this transaction is 100% risk-free by virtue of my status in the bank and also my vast experience in the banking sector. I look forward to work with you for the successful swift transfer of these funds to your bank account.

As a seasoned bank do not ask many questions on the possibility or success of this project because I know how to go about manipulation of the bank Database to effect needed changes in your name. Upon successful completion of these into your bank account, I will come over to your country and meet with you personally so can share the funds 50/50equal.

Please if this proposal don't interest you, delete this correspondence after reading this email and pretend as if you have not received it from me.

Regards

Mr. James Mba

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