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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:

• 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)
  • "huge sum of money" (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.
  
• 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.
  • yaw_osafo_maafo@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo <maafoosafo@katamail.com>
Reply-To: yaw_osafo_maafo@excite.com
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:25:38 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL/ INVESTMENT


Dear friend,
How is your family? hope all of you are fine, if so splendid. After careful consideration with my wife and children, we resolved to contact you for your most needed assistance in this manner. I duly apologize for infringing on your privacy, if this contact is not acceptable to you, as I make this proposal to you.
Yaw Osafo-Maafo is my name and former Ghanaian minister of finance. Although I was sacked by President John Kufuor on 28 April 2006 for the fact I signed $29 million book publication contract with Macmillan Education without reference to the Public Procurement Board and without Parliamentary approval. I have taken pains to find your contact through personal endeavours.I decided to contact you after due thought in respect of a transfer of a huge sum of money,
You can read more on this web page http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=103713
Right now, I was being probed because of it. As matter of fact, $15 million
part of the money was lodged into security company in europe, were the funds is been deposited. the money will be release to you for investment. I would like you to give this a highly confidential approach. Any question you wish to ask concerning this deal, do not delay to ask.
Presently, I do not need any telephone discussion for safety. The moment I hear from you, my lawyer will contact you,
If you are interested in this proposal sent me mail to my privert Email address: (yaw_osafo_maafo@excite.com) or (maafoyaw@walla.com)
I wait your response.
My regards,
Minister,Yaw Osafo-Maafo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam