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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",000,000" (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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: alex kyei <alexkyei03@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 06:11:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: HELLO DEAR


REFUGEE CAMP
#15 RUE, 421 BP
ADABRAKA ACCRA
GHANA.
HI,
I KNOW THAT MY MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE
SINCE I DON'T KNOW YOU IN PERSON OR MET WITH YOU BEFORE
BUT I AM OF THE BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE OBLIGED TO
COME TO MY ASSISTANCE AFTER HEARING ABOUT MY
SITUATION.
I AM ALEX KYEI , THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE MR.
ANTHONY KYEI MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA
MERCHANT BASED IN ACCRA, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF GHANA
BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS
ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A
BUSINESS.
, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE I AM
THE ONLY HAIR OF THE FAMILY AND BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH
DEC 2006 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN ACCRA GHANA
HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT
HE HAS A SUM OF US$4.5,000,000:00 (4.5 MILLION U.S
DOLLARS, LEFT IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT IN ONE OF THE
LEADING BANKS IN GHANA, HE USED MY NAME AS HIS ONLY
SON FOR THE NEXT OF KIN IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND.
HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS
WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS
ASSOCIATES. THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER
IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS
MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE, (SUCH AS REAL
ESTATE MANAGEMENT) .PLEASE DEAR, I AM HONORABLY
SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWINGS.
1. TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE
TRANSFERRED.
2. TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM A
BOY OF 21 YEARS OLD.
3. TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR
COUNTRY AFTER THE MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED.
MOREOVER, PLEASE, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 30% OF THE
TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER
THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND INTO YOUR
NOMINATED ACCOUNT OVERSEAS. FURTHER MORE, YOU CAN
INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE
THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHIN SEVEN
(7) DAYS YOU.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU AS I WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU
SOONEST

YOURS SINCERELY
ALEX KYEI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam