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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: James Mike <mk-jm14@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <jamesmik777@yahoo.es>
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:36:29 +0100
Subject: Message From Mr James Mike



Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a staff of one of the leading banks in Ghana. I will give you the name of my bank and other important information if I receive a positive reply from you. For security reasons I cannot disclose my full identity to you now until I am sure of your cooperation. I work in the operations dept where I serve as account officer to numerous customers.

One of the customers whom I worked as his account officer was a wealthy diamond merchant from America. His Name Is James Hydes Peterson , Because this man was good to me when he was alive, I took it upon myself to travel to his country last month, to see if I could locate any of his close relations.

On reaching there I discovered that his only surviving uncle died a few months back. I sponsored this trip on my own and nobody in the bank knew I was undertaking the journey so I did not present any official report of my findings in the bank.
Now there are two things I could do with regards to the money. First, as his accounts officer, I could formally notify the bank authorities that the man is dead and has no next of kin. In this case the money would be forfeited to the government after some time. As a matter of fact this is the proper thing I am supposed to do.Another thing I can do is to arrange for someone else, a foreigner that he will claim the money. This is the option that I can do to help anybody and myself since the money actually is public fund due to the fact that my friend was a close ally to the late brutal military president that looted government treasury. And that is why I have chosen to do it.

I want you to be my partner. All you would have to do is act as the next of kin of the dead man and the whole money in the account will be transferred to your account. As the accounts officer to the late man, I have all the necessary documents that will require claiming the money in the account. The total money in the account is USD30 million. Your share will be 30%, which is USD 9,million. My colleague and i will share 70%. Reach me immediately by mail so that I can give you further details. You need to provide me with the following informations:

1) Your Full Names:

2) Your Address and Telephone Number/Fax

3) Your Occupation and Age:

As soon as i hear from you, I will give you the details and procedures of the transaction.

Thanks .

Mr. James Mike.


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