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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:
  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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• What can you do when you receive 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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "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)
  • "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: DR PAUL ACQUAH <dr_paul_quah04@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 11:20:56 +0000
Subject: PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE



From The Desk Of:Dr Paul Acquah.Executive GovernorBank Of Ghana .Dear Sir/Madam, IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE ON CONTRACT #:MAV/GNPC/GH/MIN/009. From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the Government of Ghana your name and company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not received their payments. I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is US$10.7 million dollars (Ten Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollar, Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me thefollowings: 1) Your full name.2) Phone, Fax and Mobile #3)Company name, Position and Address.4) Profession, age and marital status.5) Any kind of identification As soon as this information are received, your payment will be made to you in a cash delivery or wired to your bank account directly from Bank of Ghana and the copy of transfer will be given to you for you to take to your bank and confirm it. Get back to me as soon as you receive this mail. Please respond all Reply to my alternative email: Thisis for confidentiality sake and quick response.dr_paulacquah_02@yahoo.comCordially yours, Dr Paul Acquah,Executive Governor,Bank of Ghana (BOG).
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam