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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)
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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:
  • "escrow account with no beneficiary" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.MICHAEL OWUSU" <mailmowusu69@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mailmowusu010@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 07:58:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: VERY URGENT


Barclays BankLimited
Accra Ghana
Dakar Branch
Box:1414
Mr.Michael Owusu
Mananger.
...............................................
MY NAME IS MR.MICHAEL OWUSU, I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAYS BANK GHANA LTD,OF DAKAR BRANCH IN THE WESTERN REGION OF TAKORADI.I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH, I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS. I AM A DEVOTED GOOD CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF PEACE AND TRUSTY.

I HAVE PACKAGED THIS FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I,AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE BARCLAYS BANK IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN A FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF ACCRA GHANA AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR.

ON THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR 2006 BUSINESS REPORT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE FIVE MILLION, US DOLLARS($5,MILLION DOLLARS) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF.

I PLACED IT IN WHAT WE CALL ESCROW ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY NAME. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS FUND, SO WITH DUE RESPECT AS MY AIM.IAM CONTACTING YOU TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 20% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION.

THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED, IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER, ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUNDS WHO MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT.

IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL BE APPRECIATED.GET BACK TO ME AS SOONEST SO THAT WE MOVE OVER THE DETAILS.

I WILL PROVIDE MY PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS ON YOUR REQUEST.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.



YOURS TRULY,
MR.MICHAEL OWUSU.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam