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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • kwaku_p42@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Peter Kwaku" <kwaku_peter3@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Reply-To: kwaku_peter@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:43:27 +0100
Subject: Your Advice From Mr. Peter Pls Reply Back Now!!!

From: The Manager,
International Commercial Bank Ghana
First Light Branch
Accra, Ghana.

My Dear Friend,

This proposal is real and I want you to consider it very important and I am assuring you that it is not a joke or anyhow letter. I got your contact during my search on the Internet. My name is Mr. Peter Kwaku. I am the manager of the International Commercial Bank Ghana, First Light Branch. I am a Ghanaian married with two kids.

I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of US$ 3,550.000.00. This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am manger made as profit during the last year. I have already submitted an approved End of the Year report for the year 2005 to my Head Office here in Accra and they will never know of this Excess. I have since then, placed this amount of US$ 3,550.000.00 on a SUSPENCE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I intend to part 30% of this fund to you while 70% shall be for me. I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It¡¯s going to be a bank-to-bank transfer. All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund.You may reach me through: kwaku_p42@yahoo.com <mailto:kwaku_p42@yahoo.com>

If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response.
With regards,
Peter Kwaku.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam