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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • charlesmensah10@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Charles Mensah <charlesmensah_500@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 03:06:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Greetings to you,


>From Mr. Charles Mensah
: +233 242182422
 
Greetings to you,
 
This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only a day that people meet and become great friends/ business partners. I am Mr. Charles Mensah , currently Head of Corporate Affairs Department with a reputable bank here in Ghana. I write you this proposal in good faith,
 
believing that I can trust you with the information I am about to reveal to you.I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On June 5th, 2000, a German business tycoon Mr. Andreas Schranner made a (Fixed deposit) for 60 calendar months, valued at US$12,500,000.00 (Twelve Million Five hundred Thousand Dollars only) in my bank and I happen to be his account officer before I was moved to my present position recently.The maturity date for this deposit contract was last 3rd of April 2005. Before this date, I have tried my possible best to locate a Next of Kin to late Mr. Schranner, but all efforts proved abortive, because all his family,
 
 including his Son In-Law and children died in the plane crash of Concorde Air France Flight AF4590 which took place on 25th July 2000, some months after he did the deposit in my bank. You can read more story about the plane crash by visiting this website; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm With the recent change of government in my country and with their efforts to support the United Nations in checkmating terrorism aid in Ghana.By end of April next year, the Government will pass a new Financial Control Law which will give the Government authority to interrogate account owners of above $5 million Dollars to explain the source of the funds, making sure it is not for terrorism support. If I do not move this money out of the country immediately,
 
 
 by October the Government will definitely confiscate the money, because my bank cannot provide the account owner to explain the source of the money since he is late.I decided to utilize this life time opportunity, instead of Government confiscating the, but I cannot directly claim the money without the help of a foreigner and that is why I am contacting you for an assistance. As the Account Officer to late Mr. Schranner, coupled with my present position and status in the bank, I have the power to influence the release of the funds to any foreigner that comes up as the Next of Kin to the account, with the correct information concerning the account, which I shall give you. I am having the secret Code for the account, which only the account owner or his Next of Kin can know.I shall supply all necessary information we need for the claim and there is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of law,
 
beside Ghana is porous and anything goes. If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you wish us to share the funds in percentage, so that both parties will be satisfied. I shall explain to you in details how we shall handle the transaction once I receive your response. Thanking you in advance and may God bless you. Please, treat with utmost confidentiality.You can contact me with my private email address charlesmensah10@gmail.com
 
I shall send you copy of the deposit slip issued to Mr. Schranner when the deposit was made for your perusal.
I wait your urgent response.
 Regards,
 Charles Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam