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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Owusu" <barimah18@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: nifo_000@yahoo.co.in
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:28:30 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Greetings To You

Greetings from Ghana,

I am Mr. Barimah Douglas Owusu, a Bank Manager here in Ghana. I write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you will not betray me. I believe it is the WILL of God for us to meet through this means. One Mr. Pedro Brito Rodriguez a US citizen and businessman made a (Fixed deposit) with
my bank in 2001 for 48 calendar months, valued at US$14,600,000.00 (Fourteen Million, Six hundred Thousand US Dollars). I was his account officer before I rose to my present position of manager. The due date for this deposit contract was 20th of August 2005. I have tried to locate him to through
the address and phone numbers he presented to notify him about the maturity of the fixed deposit, but could not reach him. It was during a decisive effort to get hold of him recently that I discovered he was involved in the American Airlines flight 587 which crashed on the 12th November 2001.
You will read more stories about the crash on visiting this websites: http://www.answers.com/topic/american-airlines-flight-587 and
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-14-2001/0001615907&EDATE= where the passenger list of victims was mentioned. I have made efforts to locate any of his relation, but without success.

Now, a new Financial Law, which takes effect in two month's time, stipulates that any bank account having more than $5,000,000.00 [Five Million US Dollars] will be investigated and the bank shall produce the account owner for clearance. This is a Government measure to check money laundering. If
I do not find a way to move this money out of the country immediately, in two month's time, it might be reverted to Government treasury because I cannot provide Mr. Rodriguez. I am seeking your co-operation to present you as the next of kin to the account, so that my bank head quarters will
release the funds to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Let me know how you wish us to share the money, so that both parties will be satisfied. We shall go over the details once I receive
your urgent response and please, treat this as top secret.

Regards,
Mr Barimah Owusu.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam