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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)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "escrow account with no beneficiary" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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: Mr Mensah Mike <mike.me777@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mikemen55@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:20:18 +0000
Subject: From: Mr. Mike Mensah



From: Mr. Mike MensahAccra- Ghana.
Dear Friend,
My name is Mike Mensah.I am the regional manager National Investment Bank of Ghana, Accra branch, Accra Ghana. I got your information on a recent bank conference with other West African countries held in UK. I am 46years old married with two lovely kids. I am a man of peace and I don't want problems only hope we can work together for a common goal. If you don't want this proposal, I will not contact you again. I have packaged a financial transaction that will Benefit both of us, as the regional manager of the National Investment Bank, it is my duty to send in a financial report to my Head Office at the end of each business year. On the course of the last two year 2005 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the branch manager made Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars ($2,550.000)which my Head Office are not aware of and will never be aware of it.I have placed this funds on what we call Escrow Account with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, this informed my contacting you. Indeed I will appreciate if you can receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds.
There are practically no risks involved, it is simple bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to stand claim as one of our customer who has been banking with us and the depositor of this funds with my branch, so that upon your request for its immediate transfer, my head Office will not hesitate to transfer to your designated bank account. If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it very much and advice you expedite by sending your reply with your full names,address and telephone numbers to my email for us to discuss more details. Thank you in advance and May God bless you and family.

Regards,
Mr.Mike Mensah.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam