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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • cbog@freeghana.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bank of Ghana" <paulakwa3@msn.com>
Reply-To: cbog@freeghana.com
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 09:50:12 +0000
Subject: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE OF US$15.5M

FROM THE DESK OF THE GOVERNOR
BANK OF GHANA (BOG)
REPUBLIC OF GHANA
Tel: +233-243-360538
Fax: +233-21-409785
Email: cbog@freeghana.com (office)
paulakwa3@msn.com (private)



Dear Hon. Contractor,

IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE OF US$15.5M

>From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the
Government of Ghana your name and company was discovered as next on the list
of the outstanding contractors who have not received their payments. I wish
to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to
you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from my record in
my file your outstanding contract payment is (Fifteen Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars).

Please also re-confirm to me the followings:

1) Your full name.
2) Phone, Fax and Mobile #.
3) Company name, Position and Address.
4) Your bank account informations
5) Copy of int'l passport.

As soon as this information are received, your payment will be made to you
in a certified bank draft or wired to your bank account directly from Bank
of Ghana and the copy of transfer will be given to you for you to take to
your bank and confirm it.

Get back to me as soon as you receive this mail.

Regards,

Dr. Paul Acquah
Governor
Bank of Ghana

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam