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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: "Sai" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sai.nicholass@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:37:01 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

From: Mr. Sam Okudzeto
Director Bills & Exchange
BANK OF GHANA .

Good day,

I am Mr. Sam Okudzeto, the Director Bills & Exchange . I personally discovered a dormant account with a total sum of $39,000,000.00 (THIRTY NINE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) during our Bank's Annual Year
Account Auditing.The owner of this dormant account died on 5th Jan 2005. Since the death of the deceased, nobody has operated in this account till date. Moreover,this account has NO BENEFICIARY attached to it. Definitely, this fund will be confiscated by our BANKING CODE OF ETHICS if it remains dormant for a period of (5) years without any claims.
In this regard, I earnestly need your full cooperation in transferring this dormant fund out of our bank to avoid confiscating this fund. I will split the transfer into two 2 stages for easy and smooth transfer.
First, I will transfer $9,000,000.00 to any valid foreign account you will nominate, upon a successful transfer without any disappointment from your side, I will then fly to meet you in your home destination for sharing, and thereafter we jointly transfer the remaining balance of $30,000,000.00 for magnitude investments.
Note that you are required to furnish me with the requested information's bellow
immediately;

1) Full Names
2) Age
3) Marital Status
4) Cell Phone/Fax Number
5) Your Country
6) Occupation
7) Sex
8) Your Company
If you are willing to cooperate in this project, I will give you details immediately as soon as I hear from you. Please note that you are required to keep very confidential,
Yours truly,

Mr. Sam Okudzeto
Director Bills & Exchange
BANK OF GHANA

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