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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)
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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)
  • "million 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)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: michael emmanuel <consult.mike501@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <consult_michael2007@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 08:38:43 -0400
Subject: Anticipated co-operation


Dear Friend,
It is my Pleasure to introduce myself to you, my name is Mr. Michael Emmanuel, I am the regional bank manager of the Barclays Bank Ghana Ltd. I came to know you in my Private Search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this Confidential Transaction. I am 44 years of age and married with 3 lovely kids. It may interest you to hear that I am a man of PEACE and INTEGRITY; I only hope we can assist each other.
I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us, as the regional Auditor General of the Barclays Bank Ghana Ltd.; it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each year.
On the course of last year 2006 end of year report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made an excess profit of five million dollars USD{$5,000,000.00}of which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have since placed this fund on what we call ESCROW ACCOUNT without any beneficiary.
As an officer of the bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, this is why I'm contacting you so that you can assist and receive this money into your bank account for us to SHARE. I will offer you 20% of the total amount for your assistance.
Note that there are practically no risks involved in this transaction, it will be bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of this fund who made the deposit with Takoradi branch so that my Head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.
Do not undue the advantage of the trust I have bestow on you, and I assure you we can achieve it successfully. You can contact me on my private phone no. +233 249 672 508. OR email address:
Best regardsMr. Michael Emmanuel
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam