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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Kojo Atoapam" <kojo_atoapam03@colombia.com>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 06:36:58 -0700
Subject: Kindly reply


Dear Friend,
My name is Atoapm Kojo, I am the regional manager of Barclays bank of Ghana
Takwaa branch. Am writing you this mail for something very important, I am
happily married with four lovely kids. I have been a banker for almost 10
years.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I, as the
regional manager of my branch 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
branch in which I am the manager made Eighteen Million United State Dollars
($18M) USD. I have placed these funds under escrow account; this account is
strictly for onward transfer.
As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money in
any way, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in
your bank account and I will offer you 45% of the total sum as commission; I
will invest 50% of my share in your country provided it is profit oriented.
5% of the total fund will be set aside to reimburse all expenses to be
incurred in the course of running this transaction such as telephone and
other minor expenses.
All you need to do is to stand and claim as the original depositor and
beneficiary of the fund in my branch so that my head office can order the
transfer of the fund to your designated bank account. There are practically
no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank transfer.
Kindly indicate your private telephone and fax number for more efficient
Communication. Looking forward to your anticipated urgent response.


Thanks till I hear from you.

Mr. Atoapam kojo

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam