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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: "MRS.ALICE MENSAH" <alicemensah_icbghana@afrik.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: alicemensah_2004@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 06:43:50 +0000
Subject: URGENT LETTER FROM MRS.ALICE MENSAH

MRS ALICE MENSAH
BRANCH OPERATIONS
FOREIGN CUSTOMER'S UNIT
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK,
ACCRA - GHANA
DIRECT OFFICE TEL/FAX : +233-21-23-91-51 EXT 102

GOOD DAY,

I AM MRS.ALICE MENSAH THE CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY TO THE SENIOR MANAGER,BRANCH OPERATIONS,INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA IN WEST AFRICA.
I WAS DIRECTED TO INQUIRE FROM YOU IF YOU CAN HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION ON BEHALF OF MY BOSS MR.JOHN DONKOR BOATENG WHO DUE TO HIS OFFICIAL COMMITMENTS WHICH INVOLVES SUPERVISING ALL BRANCH OFFICES ACTIVITIES IS NOT CHANCED NOW HENCE HE MANDATED ME TO CONTACT.
THE TRANSACTION IS ABOUT ASSISTING US AS OUR FORIEGN COUNTERPART TO ENABLE US PRESENT YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE USD $30MILLION DOLLARS LEFT BY OUR LATE DECEASED FORIEGN CUSTOMER.AT THE END OF THE TRANSACTION,YOU WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH 30% OF THE TOTAL FUND

SINCE JANUARY 2002, THE FUND HAS BEEN IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT AWAITING FOR CLAIM.
WE WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE TRANSACTION WHEN WE RECIEVE YOUR AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSE. I CAN BE REACHED ON MY SECURED E-MAIL ADDRESS : alicemensah_icb@freeghana.com or CALL MY BOSS MR.JOHN DONKOR BOATENG FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON HIS PHONE NUMBER: +233-24326-1315
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING,LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOONEST.

YOURS FAITHFULLY.

MRS.ALICE MENSAH




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