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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. Maxwell Ashon" <joedwbo400@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject:

*Hello Friend,I decided to write you this proposal in good faith,I have
been in search of someone with the same last name of our late customer and
a close friend of mine ( Mr.Richard ) , hence I contacted you because both
of you bear the same surname and coincidentally from the same country, I
was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other.
Meanwhile I am , Mr. Maxwell Ashon , a reputable banker here in Accra
Ghana . On the 15 March 2007, the young millionaire ( Mr.Richard ) a
citizen of your country and Crude Oil dealer made a fixed deposit with my
bank for 60 calendar months, valued at US$6,500,000.00 (Six Million, Five
Hundred Thousand US Dollars) and the mature date for this deposit contract
was on 16th of April, 2012. But sadly he was among the death victims in the
12 May 2008, Earthquake disaster in China that killed over 58,000 people.
Because he was in China on a business trip and that was how he met his end.
My bank management is yet to know about his death, but I knew about it
because he was my friend and I am his Account Relationship Officer, and he
did not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account was opened, because
he was not married and no children. Last week my Bank Management requested
that Mr.Richard should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if
to renew the contract or not. I know this will happen and that is why I
have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my Bank
Directors happens to know that he is dead and do not have any Heir, they
will take the funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen.
That is why I am seeking your co-operation to present you as the Next of
Kin/ Heir to the account, since you bear same last name with the deceased
customer. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors
to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am
suggesting we share the funds in this ratio, 50/50%, i.e. equal. Let me
know your mind on this . I will reveal further information / details to you
as I receive your positive reply. Have a nice day and I Anticipating your
communication. Regards, Mr. Maxwell.*

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