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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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Fraud email example:

From: Edward Mensah <ed_mensah@zwallet.com>
Date: Tue, 05 Apr 2005 12:35:37 +0000
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL

International Commercial Bank Limited

Makola Shopping Mall

Accra - Ghana, West Africa

Tel: +233-28-310184, Fax: +233-21-413761



Our Ref: ICB/MO-XXL08/2005



From: The Accountant

International Commercial Bank Ghana

First Light Branch

Accra - Ghana



Sir,



I got your contact during my search on the Internet. My name is Mr. Edward Mensah. I am the accountant of the International Commercial Bank - Ghana, First Light Branch Accra. I am a Ghanaian married with two kids.



I am writing to solicit your assistance in the noble transfer of US$3,800,000.00 (Three million, eight hundred thousand U.S. dollars). This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am the accountant made as profit during the last year. I have already submitted an approved end of the last year report for the year 2003 and also submitted report of first quarter of this year 2004 to my Head Office here in Accra and they will never know of this Excess. I have since then, placed this amount of US$3,800,000.00 (Three million, eight hundred thousand U.S. dollars) on a SUSPENCE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.



As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I intend to part 30% of this fund to you while 70% shall be for me. I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to your nominated bank account anywhere you feel safer. All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund.



If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response.





With regards,



EDWARD MENSAH



Note: You also contact me on my e-mail address (edwardmensah_icbl@hotmail.com or edwardmensah_icbl@zwallet.com



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