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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Goodluck Adom" <mrgadom2@livedoor.com>
Reply-To: mradomg@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:57:47 -0700
Subject: GREETINGS TO YOU MY DEAR FRIEND.


From: Mr. Goodluck Adom
Standard Chartered Bank of Ghana,
Takoradi Branch.
Phone: +233245751939.

My Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Goodluck Adom. I work with the Standard Chartered Bank of
Ghana as the Regional manager, Takoradi Branch, in the Western Region of
Ghana.

I am 44 years old with two lovely kids. I have packaged a transaction that
will be of mutual benefit to us. As the branch manager of Standard Chartered
Bank of Ghana, it is my duty to send a financial report to my head office in
the capital city, Accra, at the end of each financial year.

Following the release of the 2006 fiscal year, I discovered that my branch
made six million five hundred and thirty thousand united state dollars
($6,530,000.00); from the transactions accruing to the account of the Inland
Revenue Service (IRS). This was not detected by the renowned auditors from
my head office.

I have moved the funds into what the bank call Escrow Call Account with no
beneficiary. Meanwhile as you know I can not be directly connected to this
money for obvious reasons. So my contacting you is to assist me receive the
funds in your bank account in your country; which I know is possible if you
liaise properly with me and get 30% of the total funds as your benefit.

The transfer would be made via swift and it will be a Bank-to-Bank wired
transfer. All I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of
this fund. I will compute your particulars as the person who made the
deposit in my branch, so that my head office will immediately order the
transfer to your designated bank Account.

Call or mail me if you think we can work together, on +233245751939.

Thanks for your understanding and co-operation.

Yours truly,
Mr. Goodluck Adom
Branch Manager.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam