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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:
  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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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 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.
  • drimgh@post.com

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Issaka Mensah <drissaka_gh@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 08:52:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATTENTION.


For privacy reply to: drimgh@post.com

Attn: Mr. Bertil van Beek,

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics. I will introduce myself as Dr Issaka Mensah, a senior staff in the accounting department of the above firm (INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK LTD) here in Ghana. One of our accounts with holding balance of $15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars) has been dormant and has not been operated for over two (2) years now. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account, a foreigner by name Mr. Kurt Kahle Beek, died in July, 2003 through a car accident alongside his wife.

And since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds. I have secretly discussed this matter with a senior official of this company and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with.

We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin and beneficiary of these funds from the deceased, and funds released to you after due processes have been followed. This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act. On receipt of your response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual benefit transaction. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested.

Regards,
Dr Issaka Mensah
Tel: +233243038754



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam