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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: "Mr. Martin Kofi Adu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mkofiadu47@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2020 20:23:25 -0700
Subject: [*SPAM*] Compliment of the season (Can you handle USD$87M?)

Good day,
 
I am Mr. Martin Kofi Adu.I write to solicit for your assistance in a business proposal. Can you handle USD$87M for a contract (GNPC) investment fund,(FIXED) deposited? I’ll like to know how you can be trusted to execute this project with me.
 
If yes, Please kindly get back to me with your direct cell-phone,home telephone numbers and contact address,if you can really be trusted,to enable us discuss further details for our mutual benefits.
 
I await your prompt response.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mr. Martin Kofi Adu, Manager,
Engineering and Head of Project and
Planning of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation
      (GNPC)

Anti-fraud resources: