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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:
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "International Commercial Bank" <intercombk@sify.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: intercombk@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:48:57 +0000
Subject: From International Commercial Bank Very Urgent

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr James Koffi, I am the manager of International Commercial bank of Ghana Kumasi branch in the eastern region of Ghana. I got your contact when I was searching for an overseas partner to assist me.

I write you this Letter in good faith; I am 47 years old married with two lovely kids. I have packaged a transaction that will benefit you and me as the branch manager of the International Commercial bank; it is my duty to send a report to my head office in the capital city of (Ghana Accra) at the end of each year business.

On the course of last years 2005 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made four million five hundred and fifty thousand united state dollars which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of it.

I have deposited this funds on what we call (Escrow) call account with no beneficiary. As the branch manager of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my contacting you to this transaction is to assist me receive this funds in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds as your own share. If you agree to assist me, I will immediately program your full information’s in the computer system here in my own branch as an account owner in International Commercial bank of Ghana. It will be a bank-to-bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office will immediately order the transfer to your designated bank account. If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it very much. Thank you in advance as you co-operates with me and God bless you.

Yours Truly,

Mr James Koffi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam