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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "charles benson" <charlesbenson1051@gmail.com>
Reply-To: charlesbenson_113@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 16:21:00 +0000
Subject: Greetings


Greetings from Mr. Charles Benson

I write to seek your services in a private and confidential matter regarding
some funds unaccounted for in our bank here in Ghana during the last 2007
business year. As the regional manager of the bank it is my duty to send in
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 branch made five million eight hundred
and fifty thousand united state dollars ($5,850,000.00) which my head office
is not aware of and will never be aware of.

I deposited this fund in an ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT at our headquarters pending
when I shall get a reliable person. This requires a private arrangement.
Could you perhaps be able to receive these funds under legal claims, then I
will fill you in. your participation will be 30% of the total money.

There are practically no risk involved, the transaction shall be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law, it will be simply bank-to-bank transfer. I have all the details and
will fill you in if you are really willing to participate in the
transaction. Your major role will be to provide an existing account or open
a new bank account where the funds will be transferred and stand as the
original depositor of this fund in our bank, as long as you will remain
honest to me till the end for this important business trusting in you and
believing that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I shall be grateful if you would help me invest my own part of the money in
a very profitable business. I have worked for this bank for the past 15
years yet I have nothing to show for it. I will expect a straight answer
from you. If yes, please get back to me so that we can work out the
modalities without further delay.

With best regards,

Mr. Charles Benson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam