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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: Felicia Darko <felicia.darko26@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2023 03:02:41 +0000
Subject: HELLO

Hello Dear,

I am Felicia Darko, a female Ghanaian. I am the only child of my parents.
However, I wish to inform you that my father was the commander of the
ancient Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana and there was a controversial scandal
going on into the Gold Sector of the Government whereby the government
requested he should over influence a contract to the sum of
US$500,000,000.00 Million to their personal benefits as top officials of
the government.

To the refusal of my late father to this proposal, they have to kill him to
have their way for their own selfish interest. But before the death of my
father, he told me that he deposited the sum of US$25,500,000.00 (Twenty
Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) with 50kg of Gold in Security
Company in two metallic boxes as consignments but registered them as
precious items and personal effects.

He told me that in case anything happens to him, I should make sure I find
a foreign partner that will help me move the consignments out from the
security company and invest the funds. He also warned me not to associate
with any of his friends down here or members of the family for my own
safety.

I want you to know that he gave me the Certificate of Deposit of the funds;
I will supply you with these documents once you agree to help me and have
only 30% of the total funds after your efforts.

Hope to hear from you so that I will inform you what to do next.


Yours truly,
Felicia Darko

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