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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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)
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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" <drpaulacquah.0107@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <drpaul_bog_gh@gawab.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:48:27 +0000
Subject: FUND DELIVERY INFORMATION



FROM THE DESK OF THE GOVERNOR
BANK OF GHANA (BOG)
REPUBLIC OF GHANA.

Dear Sir/Madam,

We have on this 14th day of Sept., 2007 received a payment credit instruction from the Government Of Ghana to credit your account with your full contract funds from the Millennium Challenge Account with our bank. This is to notify you that your funds have been programmed for immediate release into your nominated account but we can not transfer these funds direct to your nominated bank account, because we are having a little problem with International Monetary Fund (IMF) so our method of payment is by Diplomatic Courier Service.

Be informed that every arrangement regarding your cash payment through Diplomatic Services has been made, your funds packaged like a consignment and the Diplomatic Agency have to move down to your Country in order to deliver the Consignment to your doorstep. Note also that as soon as the Diplomatic arrives in your Country they will give you a call immediately and you will help them to get Customs Yellow Tag for the consignment. You have to help the Diplomat to get the Custom Yellow Tag Paper so that the Customs will allow them entry at the airport for onward delivery of the Consignment to you and for security reason you are advice to follow the rules and regulations of the diplomat for easy collection of the consignment.

Finally, please be aware that the diplomat will leave Accra, Ghana via London and finally to arrive in your Country which is his last destination on the diplomatic travel route. I want you to send your direct mobile phone and your home address to me immediately, so that as soon as the diplomatic arrives in your country he will call you immediately to notify you.

Cordially Yours,

Dr. Paul Acquah
Governor, Bank of Ghana
Accra, Ghana.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam