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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: Thomas Ankra <thomasnkra321@gmail.com>
Reply-To: thomasankra6777@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 02:07:53 +0300
Subject: [***** SPAM 16.5 *****] Good Day



--
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICA STATES(ECOWAS)
APPROVED/DESIGNATED OFFICE FOR
FOREIGN DEBT VERIFICATION, RECONCILIATION, SETTLEMENT/PAYMENT
USHEER, TOWN
ACCRA, GHANA.

Sir,

RE: PAYMENT OF US3, 800,000 TO FOREIGN BENEFICIARY AS INITIAL PAYMENT FOR
OVERDUE FUND

Attention: Beneficiary,

I am Mr. Thomas Ankra I have the mandate and full authority from a super
ceding authority to verify your transaction and subsequently
release/transfer your overdue funds into your nominated bank account if no
irregularity is uncovered during the process of verification.

As you may rightly want to know, this development was necessitated as a
result of massive outcry/complaint from bona fide foreign beneficiaries
globally on the issue of delay, hindrances and repeated problems on
foreign
payments which also includes attachment of difficult and unfavourable
conditions from agencies, authorities and financial institutions within
ECO
WAS region which in no small measures contributed as an obstacle to
foreign
beneficiaries in receiving their funds.

In order to proffer a lasting and sustainable solution to these problems
the ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES OF WEST AFRICA STATES(ECO WAS) had to wedge into
the matter by setting up a panel to review and submit report on this
sensitive issues in order to remedy the situation and also to redeem the
lost image of ECO WAS region.

In line with the report of the panel, all charges, fees and unnecessary
payments which beneficiaries were liable to for one reason or the other
have been cancelled and a total sum of US,800,000(Three million, eight
hundred US Dollars) have been earmarked as initial payment for every
affected beneficiaries. Therefore, the only thing you need to do as a
foreign beneficiary of the said funds from any ECO WAS country is to
procure a TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(TIN) in accordance with the new
directives.

Further, note that Ghana has been appointed as the only authorized payment
centre because of its position as a sanitized and peaceful nation, this
means that all payments originally sourced and accrued from all countries
within the ECO WAS country have been channeled to Ghana for onward
transfer
to qualified foreign beneficiaries.

We have been instructed to conclude the entire exercise on or before the
1st quarter of year 2014. Any beneficiary who fails to meet up within the
stipulated period would have his/her funds paid into the ECO WAS treasury
as unclaimed fund.

Finally, to help us commence with the process of transfer in accordance
with the new directives you will be required to send us useful details as
stated below for reconfirmation in order to avoid wrong payment/transfer.

1. FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS:
2. TELEPHONE NUMBER:
3. TOTAL AMOUNT DUE:
4. SOURCE OF PAYMENT:
5. OCCUPATION:
6. DATE OF BIRTH
7. BANK DETAILS:

I await your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Thomas Ankra

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