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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:15:32 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: GET BACK TO ME SOON


From: Mr.Paul Akakpo.
The Manager International
Commercial Bank Ghana,
First Light Branch
Accra, Ghana.
 
Attn Sir,
 
I
am Mr.Paul Akakpo, the branch manager of the International Commercial
Bank, Kaneshie First Light Branch Accra Ghana. I write to solicit your
assistance in a funds transfer deal involving US$ 5.3M.

 
This
fund has been stashed out of the excess profit made last year by my
branch office of the International Commercial Bank of Ghana, which I am
the manager. I have already submitted an approved end-of-the-year
report for the year 2007 to my head office here in Accra-Ghana and they
will never know of this excess.

 
I have since then, placed
this amount on a Non-Investment Account without a beneficiary. Upon
your response, I will configure your name on our database as holder of
the Non-Investment Account. I will then guide you on how to apply to my
head office for the Account Closure/bank-to-bank remittance of the
funds to your designated bank account.

 
If you concur with this proposal, I intend for you to retain 30% of the funds while 70% shall be for me.
 
Your earliest response would be appreciated on the regards.
 
Sincerely
 
Mr.Paul Akakpo.









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