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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul Ghankay Taylor." <ghankay111@msn.com>
Reply-To: ghankay022@yahoo.it
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2006 10:14:39 +0000
Subject: STRICTLY URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

STRICTLY URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Sir/Madam

This letter might come to you as a surprise but due to our present family problems, I just have to call for help. We have been searching for a trustworthy person, We have seen none. I pray you help us out of this.

I am Paul Ghankay Taylor the son of Charles Ghankay Taylor, The former president of Liberia whom later accept an offer of asylum from the Nigeria president on august 11/2003. before then my father asset was frozen by the bush administration July 23/2003

My father lost his appeal against being prosecuted for war crimes may 31/2004 because the prosecution says my father backed the former REVOLUTION UNITED FRONT (RUF) in exchange of Diamond and Precious Stones worth Millions of Dollars now that there is no hope for him to walk freely, he now confide in me and my mother by letting us know that he has a huge sum of money somewhere in Europe the sum of (25,000,000,00) Twenty Five Million Dollars which he deposited with a Security firm in Europe.

This firm operates in fund managements/international cash bullion/underwriters/ and security handling, general appropriation. I was told by my father that he indicated my name as next of kin.

Since I do not have a legitimate business in Europe (ltaly,where I presently reside as a political asylum seeker) to back up this fund and the political problems involving my family. I am soliciting for your assistance secretly to put this fund in your Bank account pending my arrival in your country.

It has been agreed that 70% of the whole sum will be for my family and 25% will be for your assistance while the balance 5% will be for any expenses incurred during this transaction. This cash was defaced and can be refaced for normal usage when it gets to its final destination.

please, contact me on Tel/Fax +393285913829 for more directives on how best we can successfully get this fund safely into your account
Please remember that this is (STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL) as my identity should not be made known considering my diplomatic status as an asylum seeker.

I await your response

Best Regards,
Paul Ghankay Taylor.

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam