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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.

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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:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Gerald Poku" <geraldpoku@excite.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: geraldpoku@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 12:30:22 +0000
Subject: Mr.Gerald Poku

Attn,

I am Mr.Gerald Poku, manager of a known financial establishment in Ghana. I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of US$11.500.000.00. This fund is the excess of what my branch made as profit during the last year. I have already submitted an approved End of the Year report to my Head Office here in Accra and they will never know of this Excess. I have since then, placed this amount of US$11.500.000.00 (Eleven Million Five hundred Thousand United States Dollars) 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 60% shall be for me and my asistant in the office who knew of this money, while 10% will be used to reimburse expenses that might arise like phone bills and other expenses during the transaction
I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this deal. It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to your nominated bank account anywhere you feel safer. All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund.

If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response. Also you can forward your bank account and your private phone number for speedy relation on this matter. Remember l am still working your confidentiality is needed in this transaction. Pls trust and honest is the watchword of this our transaction.
With regards,
Mr.Gerald Poku

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam