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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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• 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:
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Michael Kwesi" <mrmichaelkwesi7@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrmichaelkwesi1@yahoo.cn
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 21:06:53 +0100
Subject: RE: SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$7.500 MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.


DEAR Sir,


MY NAME IS MR MICHAEL KWESI. I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA LTD IN THE EASTERN REGION OF GHANA. I WRITE YOU THIS
PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH. I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO LOVELY KIDS.

I AM A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF PEACE. I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL
TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I. 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. IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR BUSINESS REPORT. I
DISCOVERED THAT MY REGION IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE SEVEN MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($7, 500.000.00) 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 / SUNDRY 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 THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL BELOW IF YOU
THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS. CONTACT ME
IMMEDIATELY AND ONLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS .

THANKS IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
YOURS TRULY .

MR, MICHAEL KWESI.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam