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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: "drmichaelopuku995@gmail.com" <drmichaelopuku995@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 02:02:56 +0000
Subject: RE,CONFIRM YOUR INTEREST

*Dear Friend,I am Mr.Michael Opuku, Minister Foreign AffairsMinistry and
regional cooperation & NEPAD; my officemonitors and controls the affairs of
all banks and financialinstitutions in Ghana concerned with foreign
contractpayments. I am the final signatory to any transfer orremittance of
huge funds moving within banks both on thelocal and international levels in
line to foreign contracts settlement.I have before me list of funds,which
could not betransferred to some nominated accounts as these accountshave
been identified either as ghost accounts, unclaimeddeposits and
over-invoiced sum etc. I write to present youto the Parliament government
that you are among the peopleexpecting the funds to be transferred into
their account, onthis note; I wish to have a deal with you as regards to
theunpaid certified contract funds.I have every files before me and the
data's will beto change to your name to enable you receive the fund
intoyour nominated bank account as the beneficiary of thefund's amount $4.8
Million USD As it is my duty torecommend the transfer of these surplus
funds to theGovernment Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimeddeposits,
I have the opportunity to write you based on theinstructions i received
last week from the ParliamentaryCommittee on Contract Payments/Foreign
Debts to submit theList of payment reports / expenditures and audited
reports of revenues.Among several others,I have decided to remit this
sumfollowing my idea that we h ave a deal/agreement and I amgoing to do
this legally. This deal must be kept secretforever, and all correspondence
will be strictly by email/telephone,for security purposes.3. There should
be no thirdparties as most problems associated with your fund releaseare
caused by your agents or representative. If you AGREEwith my conditions,
Send me an email and i advise you onwhat to do immediately and the transfer
will commencewithout delay as I will proceed to fix your name on thePayment
schedule instantly to meet the three weekmandate.Waiting for your response
soon.Best Regards,Mr.Michael Opuku*

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