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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: "Dr. John I. Madaki" <johnndaki@sify.com>
Reply-To: johndaki@sify.com
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 03:06:14 -0700
Subject: TRULY, THAT'S IT............


>From The Desk of: DR. JOHN I MADAKI

DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF LOCAL AND
RURAL DEVELOPMENT,
ACCRA,GHANA.

TRULY, THAT'S IT.

DEAR Sir/Madam,

TRANSFER OF US$35.5 MILLION INTO A PERSONAL/COMPANY\'S
OFFSHORE ACCOUNT.

Based on the information gathered from the Ministry of Trade and
Industry, we intend to solicit for your assistance on this transaction, with the assumption that you will not disappoint us.
We have Thirty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars (US$35,500,000.00) which we made over time from over inflated contracts in my Ministry (Federal Ministry of Health and Social Services).
We are seeking your assistance and permission to remit this amount into your account or any other nominated account you can provide for us.
Your commission will be 20% of the total sum,10% for expenses and the
Remaining 70% is for my colleagues and me.
Could you please notify me of your acceptance to carry out this transaction urgently by e-mail only on the receipt of this message? Kindly, acknowledge the receipt of this letter by sending to me by email a copy of this letter with your private Tel. And Fax number.
I shall in turn inform you of the modalities for a formal application to secure the necessary approvals for the immediate release of this fund into your account.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Yours faithfully,
DR. JOHN I MADAKI

Anti-fraud resources: