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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: "ADAMS MENSAH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <adams_mensah@she.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:54:59 -0800
Subject: BUY YOU GOLD DUST NOW AT 30% DISCOUNT.

From: Mr Adams Mensah,
Obuasi Ghana, West Africa.
E-mail: adams_mensah1@yahoo.com
Tel: +233241437687
 
Attn:
Dear Sir,
 
I came across your address as I was searching for Gold buyers, dealers and brokers.
 
My name is MR Adams Mensah the second son of "Nana" (chief) Kwaime Mensah from Obuasi Town Accra Ghana West Africa.
My father is the traditional head of the Obuasi Kingdom (One of the most populous Gold mining Cities in Ghana West Africa).
He died about 2 Months ago at the age of 71 years and the remains has being in the Mortuary till date because of lack of funds to
carry out his burial rites as a high chief in one of the Gold producing/mining regions in Ghana. For this our inability to
raise sufficient funds, his remains has stayed longer than supposed. For this reason, other regional Chiefs and the entire community have summoned
us several times for this important and pressing issue which has brought a big shame to the entire family. The entire family with approval/consent of our eldest brother (the first son)
has unanimousely agreed to sell off 600 kilograms of Gold out the 1000 kilograms we as our family treasure deposited with a Security Company in Accra at a give away price of 30% discount from the current world Gold price to have the burial as soon as possible and settle all the family members.
 
I am the second son and the most learned child of the deceased, for this reason I have been saddled with the responsibility to source for instant buyers both locally and internationally. In my effort to accomplish this task, I have found your contact in my thorough search for Gold buyers, dealers and brokers. However, if you have buyer(s) who is/are willing to buy Gold, we will be happy to sell and offer you a percentage (%)
as we may agree to make sure that the remains of our late father does not stay any longer in the Mortuary and maintains the reputation of our Royal family.
 
Please help us as we look forward hearing from you in the soonest time.
 
Thanks and God bless you.
Yours faithful,
Mr. Adams Mensah.
 

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