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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: "Mr. Anthony Owusu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <owusuanthony370@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2016 11:28:04 -0500
Subject: Re.29/09/2016

Hello,
 
My name is Mr. Anthony Owusu, I am the regional Director of Ecobank Bank Gh. I have a very good deal which will interest you so much and it worth over US$12,730,000.00 Twelve Million seven Hundred and thirty thousand Dollars.
 
Before I can give you the details of this transfer, I will want to know if you are capable of handling such amount when it gets into your account? I will give you all the confirmation document that covers this money for easy process.
 
 
Right now I am in America doing a course and will not be back any time soon, that means you will be the one to communicate with my bank and request for the transfer into your account. Listen, I don't want anyone to know I am involve in this transaction. so if you think that you can handle it perfectly, let me know immediately so that I can give you the details of my bank and how you will contact them for the release of the fund to you.
 
I don't want you to mess up my transaction, because if you are not interested just let me know immediately because I wouldn't wan't you to waste my time, as you know that Time is money.
 
Get back to me immediately.
 
Mr. Anthony Owusu

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