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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: Barr James Boateng <barrjboateng77@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barristerjboateng@myway.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2007 05:20:36 +1200
Subject: Prudent Chambers



Prudent Chambers 56-61 Essex Street Accra Ghana Direct Tel: +233 2460 63731 Dear President/Ceo, I know we have not met in person but I have a very profiting proposal which I am sure you can handle. My name is barrister James Boateng QC. I am a Barrister and a member of the Queen's Council (QC) working with the reputable legal firm - Prudent Chambers in Accra Ghana and I am only contacting you to help claim deposited funds made by one of our clients who was involved in a fatal auto crash accident with his wife and was flown to london medical hopital and they later died. Late engr. Ali mohammad was a personal client of mine and I managed all thier legal affairs. Today, I stand as the only custodian to the deposit he and her wife made in Time Express Bank here in accra ghana and now I am faced with the task of providing a beneficiary for the cliam of the fund.The amount deposited by my late clients is ($10,600,000 (Ten Million Six hundred thousand United States Dollars Only) and the bank is ready to release the money to whoever I present as the beneficiary and the next-of-kin to my late clients because my late clients issued me a Power of Attorney duly endorsed in the Ghana High Courts of Justice when they made the deposit and I was thier legal advising counselor on the deposit and other issues. Now the Bank where my client deposited the fund demands that I quickly provide a claimant for the fund because the deposit duration has expired and needs a renewal or withdrawal from their bank otherwise it will be handed over to the government. Because I have not been able to provide anyone due to my fears of releasing the money to someone who might run away with it, I am being very careful about this. I have however decided to try and do this deal with you whether you are truly related to my clients or not and I pray you will not run away with the money when they release it to you. I will arrange to formalize your papers so that you can be approved as next-of-kin to my late clients and the fund can be released to you immediately. I will draft an agreement between you and me for security of the fund and sharing as soon as you accept to assist in this transaction. I agree to share fifty-fifty with you but we must bear serious responsibilities on both sides to ensure the release of the fund into your account.please if you are interested in this transaction, kindly furnish me with your private telephone and fax number, your ful name and address to enable us move forward.You may get back to me
immedietly.May the almighty God bless you. Regards, Barr.James Boateng QCDirect Tel: +233 2460 63731
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