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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Paul Acquah" <paulacquah12@student.com>
Reply-To: paulacquah04@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:49:44 +0100
Subject: Re:Urgent Interest Payment


Bank Of Ghana.
Annex Building
P. M. B 12194 ,
High Street
Accra Ghana.

OUR REF:BOG/GHA/AC/027/08

Date:28/06/08

ATTENTION HONORABLE BENEFICIARY.

RE: ACCRUED INTEREST PAYMENT OF US$3.5M

I am Dr.Paul Acquah, governor, Head of Treasury department Bank Of Ghana,
your over-due contract/inheritance funds was brought to our bank from
Economic Community of west African States (Ecowas) Board of trustee
committee chairman, which we are indebted to pay via Telegraphic Wire
Transfer (KTT)/International Certified Bank Draft for all out standing
contract/inheritance funds.


Be advised to expedite action urgently to ensure the swift release of these
your over-due funds, because the CBN officials wants the accrued interest to
be paid to them but we refused because of their bureaucratic Nigerian
banking, so when they find out that your accrued interest funds is still
out-standing in our bank they would like to recall back these funds into
their Federal Reserve Treasury as an Escrow account and unclaimed funds to
the government.

Heed to reconfirm your identification for example, your international
passport or your drivers license, then your telephone and fax number for
easy communication with your mailing address your designated bank account
details to ensure the immediate transfer of these funds as scheduled without
any further impediments.


It's deemed necessary you facilitate these Funds because the C.B.N auditors
do come to our bank to cross-check our files and our financial update.

As a matter of fact we donot have enough time to waste since we have wasted
time in contacting our respective customers who has suffered for long in
hands of wrong bank officials and syndicates, so try and comply with the
necessary remittance requirements to ensure the swift release of these funds
into your account and also send you a transfer confirmation to enable you
notify your bank about the incoming funds.

We await your utmost call on: +233-24-3256726, for more clarification.

Yours in Service,

Dr.Paul Acquah,
Governor
Bank Of Ghana(BOG).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam