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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: Wilson Chul-soon <wilsonchulsoon@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2022 06:31:51 +0100
Subject: Your Urgent Response Needed

I offer my friendship and believe you will accept me with good heart,
I was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other.
I am Mr. Isaac Odenttem, a Bank Officer here in Ghana Commercial Bank.
I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across you now. I am
having an important business discussion I wish to share with you which
I believe will interest you, because it is in connection with your
last name and you are going to benefit from it.

A citizen of your Country Gabriel Vankovic, had a fixed deposit with
my bank, valued at US$15,500,000.00 (Fifteen Million Five Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars) the due date for this deposit was last
year. Sadly Gabriel was among the death victims in the May 11 2007
fatal accident in Ghana involving seven vehicles near
Awutu-Effutu-Senya district in the Central Region of Accra where
thirty-five people were killed on the spot. Read article;

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=123861

My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it
because he was my friend and I was his account officer. Gabriel did
not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account was opened, and he
was not married and no children. Last week my Bank Management
requested that i should give instructions on what to do about his
funds, if to renew the contract.

I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a
means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to
know that Gabriel is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the
funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That was
why when I saw your last name I was happy and I am now seeking your
co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since
you have the same last name with him and my bank head quarters will
release the account to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction
will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of law.

It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors
to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am
suggesting we share the funds equal, 50/50% to both parties, my share
will assist me to start my own company and use the proceed for charity
which has been my dream.

Let me know your mind on my proposal. Please, do treat this
information as confidential and do not respond to this on Skype for
same security reason. I have more to write you about the details once
I receive your urgent response strictly through my personal Email
address: odenttemisaac63@gmail.com

Have a nice day and God bless. Anticipating your urgent response

Best Regards
Mr.Isaac Odenttem

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