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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: "Dr. Paul Acquah" <dr_paul244@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 01:35:37 +0200
Subject: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE

FROM THE DESK OF THE GOVERNOR
BANK OF GHANA (BOG)
REPUBLIC OF GHANA

Attn: Sir

IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE ON CONTRACT
#:MAV/GNPC/GH/MIN/009.

From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Government of
Ghana your name and company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding
contractors who have not received their payments. I wish to inform you that your
payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to
this letter. Also note that from my record in my file your outstanding contract
payment is US$15.7 million dollars (Fifteen Million Seven Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars).

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record and also
re-confirm to me the followings:

1) Your full name.
2) Phone, Fax and Mobile #.
3) Company name, Position and Address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
5) Copy of int'l passport.

As soon as this information are received, your payment will be made to you in a
certified bank draft or wired to your bank account directly from Bank of Ghana and
the copy of transfer will be given to you for you to take to your bank and confirm
it.

Get back to me as soon as you receive this mail.

Regards,

Dr. Paul Acquah
Governor (BOG)
dr_paul172@yahoo.com
---- ---- Easymail legyen neked is ---- ----
100 MB postafiok, IMAP/POP3, Helyesiras ellenorzes, akar 10 MB-os csatolt file!
Easymail.hu

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