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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: Patrick Amaratey <patamartey1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: patrickamartey14@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2022 11:17:24 +0000
Subject: Private memo

Hello dear,

My name is Mr. Patrick Amartey, a Banker here in Ghana. I believe it
is the will of God for me to come across you. I am have 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.

One Late Peter Mombourquette, had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2007
for 36 calendar months, valued at US$12,500,000.00(twelve million,
five hundred thousand US dollars only) the due date for this deposit
contract was 11th of December 2010 .Sadly Peter was among the death
victims in the May 12 2008 earthquake disaster in China, that killed
over 40,000 people. He was in China on a business trip and that was
how he met his end. 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.

I think it is better you go through the website of the incident,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7410166.stm

Peter did not mention any Next of Kin/Heir when the account was
opened, and Peter 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 Peter 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 headquarters will release the account to you.

There is no risk involved, the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I 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.

Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as
top secret. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent
response strictly through my personal email
address:(patrickamartey14@gmail.com). You can also reach me on my
personal cell number, +233502449048. Have a nice day and God bless.
Anticipating your communication.

Patrick Amartey.

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