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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
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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: mathewkwame@sify.com
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:17:27 +0600 (IST)
Subject: please reply


DEAR FRIEND,


MY NAME IS MATHEW KWAME. I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAYS
BANK CAPE COAST BRANCH IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF GHANA.I GOT YOUR
PERSONAL INFORMATION THROUGH MY SEARCH ON THE WEB.

I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH. I AM 44 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH
TWO LOVELY KIDS. I AM A MAN OF PEACE.I HAVE PACKAGED A 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 ACCRA AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR. ON
THE
COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR 2007 BUSINESS REPORT. I DISCOVERED THAT MY
BRANCHIN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE TEN MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITEDSTATES DOLLARS (US$10,500,000.00) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT
AWARE
OFAND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF.

I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT WE CALL ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT WITH NO
BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CAN NOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED
TO THIS MONEY. SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS
MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 25% 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 CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL
DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND 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 APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. REPLY ME
IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS.
THANKS IN ADVANCE AND MY REGARDS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

YOURS TRULY
MATHEW KWAME.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam