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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:
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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 states 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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.George Mensah" <gmensah1@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: gmensah012@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:32:13 +0100
Subject: Your Reply.


Dear Friend,

I hope this may not constitute sort of embarrassment to you, My name is
Mr.George Mensah,I am the regional bank manager of the Barclays Bank Ghana
Ltd.I came to know you in my Private Search for a reliable and reputable
person to handle this Confidential Transaction.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us, as the
regional Auditor General of the Barclays Bank Ghana Ltd.; it is my duty to
send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at
the end of each year.On the course of last year 2007 end of year report, I
discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made an excess profit of
five million united states dollars [US$5,000,000.00] which my head office
are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have since placed this fund
on what we call ESCROW ACCOUNT without any beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank I can not be directly connected to this money,
this is why I.m contacting you for us to work so that you can assist and
receive this money into your bank account for us to SHARE. I will offer you
20% of the total amount for your assistance.Note that there are practically
no risks involved in this transaction , it will be 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 Takoradi branch so that my Head office can order
the transfer to your designated bank account.

Do not make undue the advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you, and I
assure you we can achieve it successfully.

Best regards,

Mr.George Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam