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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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.

Fraud email example:

From: MARCURLY DICKSON <marcurly_dic00@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 12:22:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject: confidencial message


FROM THE DESK OF MARCURLY ADAMU
THE HEAD OF FILE DEPARTMENT, INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK(ICB)
ACCRA GHANA, WEST AFRICA.
PLANE CRASH WEB
SITE...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm.

("REMITTANCE OF $15.5MILLION U.S.A DOLLARS
CONFIDENTIAL IS THE CASE")

COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON 2006,

I AM (MARCURLY ADAMU),HEAD OF FILE DEPARTMENT & DEBT RECOVERING IN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK ACCRA GHANA
FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION.THIS IS BY
VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET.
HOWEVER AFTER SERIES OF PETITION WAS RECIEVED BY THIS PRESENT REGIME
FROM FOREIGN CONTRACTORS AND INABILITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK
(ICB)TO FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION FOR THE PAYMENT TO ITS FOREIGN
CREDITORS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, THEY MANDATED US TO
CARRY OUT A CAREFUL AND COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL OVERDUE PAYMENTS TO
FOREIGN CONTRACTORS AND TO EFFECT PAYMENTS IMMEDIATELY.
DURING THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROCESS, WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF
US$15 M (FIFTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE
OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN A PLANE
CRASH THAT HAPPENED IN (MONDAY 31ST JULY 2000).SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION
ABOUT HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN TO COME OVER
AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE IT UNLESS SOME BODY APPLIES
FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR
BANKING GUIDELINES AND LAWS BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE LEARNT THAT ALL HIS
SUPPOSED NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION DIED ALONGSIDE WITH HIM AT THE PLANE
CRASH LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM.

IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I AND OTHER OFFICIALS IN MY
DEPARTMENT NOW DECIDED TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU AND
RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED FOR
SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND WE
DON'T WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILL.
I AGREE THAT 40% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS A FOREIGN PARTNER, IN
RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF A FOREIGN ACCOUNT,AND 50% WOULD BE FOR ME,
WHILE 10% WILL BE FOR EXPENSES INCURE DURING THE TRANSACTION. THERE
AFTER I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT ACCORDING TO THE
PERCENTAGE INDICATED.THEREFORE, TO ENABLE THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF THIS FUND
TO YOU AS ARRANGED, YOU MUST APPLY FIRST TO THE BANK AS RELATION OR NEXT
OF KIN OF THE DECEASED INDICATING YOUR BANK NAME, YOUR BANK ACCOUNT
NUMBER, YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY AND EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION AND LOCATION WHEREIN THE MONEY WILL BE REMITTED.
UPON THE RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY, I WILL SEND TO YOU BY EMAIL THE TEXT OF
THE APPLICATION TO FILL AND SEND TO THE BANK. I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING
TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS HITCH-FREE RISK AND THIS
TRANSACTION WILL ONLY TAKE US 14 BANKING DAYS BECAUSE AS A BANKER, I KNOW
WHAT TO DO AND MOVE THE FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHOUT ANY DELAY AND
THAT YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY ATOM OF FEAR AS ALL REQUIRED ARRANGEMENT
HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE TRANSFER.

YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER SO THAT I
WILL SEND YOU THE TEXT OF THE APPLICATION TO APPLY TO THE BANK AND THE
DATA INFORMATION OF THE DECEASED .

YOUR'S FAITHFULLY,

MARCURLY ADAMU
FROM (ICB) ACCRA GHANA



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam