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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• 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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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 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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Osmond Attah <osmo07158@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <auditing_dept@financier.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 16:06:34 -1100
Subject: Re: Your Feedback/Call ME.



From Mr. Osmond AttahTEL: +233 242182422Greetings to you,This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it isonly a day that people meet and become great friends/ business partners. Iam Osmond Attah, currently Head of Corporate Affairs Department with areputable bank here in Ghana. I write you this proposal in good faith,believing that I can trust you with the information I am about toreveal to you. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. OnJune 5th, 2000, a German business tycoon Mr. Andreas Schranner made a(Fixed deposit) for 60 calendar months, valued at US$12,500,000.00(Twelve Million Five hundred Thousand Dollars only) in my bank and I happento be his account officer before I was moved to my present positionrecently. The maturity date for this deposit contract was last 3rd ofApril 2005. Before this date, I have tried my possible best to locate aNext of Kin to late Mr. Schranner, but all efforts proved abortive,because all his family, including his Son In-Law and children died in theplane crash of Concorde Air France Flight AF4590 which took place on 25thJuly 2000, some months after he did the deposit in my bank. You canread more story about the plane crash by visiting this website;http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stmWith the recent change of government in my country and with theirefforts to support the United Nations in checkmating terrorism aid in Ghana.By end of October this year, the Government will pass a new FinancialControl Law which will give the Government authority to interrogateaccount owners of above $5 million Dollars to explain the source of thefunds, making sure it is not for terrorism support. If I do not move thismoney out of the country immediately, by October the Government willdefinitely confiscate the money, because my bank cannot provide theaccount owner to explain the source of the money since he is late. I decided to utilize this life time opportunity, instead of Governmentconfiscating the, but I cannot directly claim the money without thehelp of a foreigner and that is why I am contacting you for an assistance.As the Account Officer to late Mr. Schranner, coupled with my presentposition and status in the bank, I have the power to influence therelease of the funds to any foreigner that comes up as the Next of Kin tothe account, with the correct information concerning the account, whichI shall give you. I am having the secret Code for the account, whichonly the account owner or his Next of Kin can know. I shall supply allnecessary information we need for the claim and there is practically norisk involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimatearrangement that will protect you from any breach of law, beside Ghana isporous and anything goes. If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you wish us toshare the funds in percentage, so that both parties will be satisfied. Ishall explain to you in details how we shall handle the transactiononce I receive your response. Thanking you in advance and may God blessyou. Please, treat with utmost confidentiality. I shall send you copy ofthe deposit slip issued to Mr. Schranner when the deposit was made foryour perusal. I wait your urgent response. Regards,Osmond Attah.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam