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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "grace kenga" <grace.kg120@biz.by>
Reply-To: grace.kenga@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:45:03 +0100
Subject: FROM GRACE


Grace Kenga,
Accra, Ghana
14/7/2008

Hello Dear,

My name is Grace Kenga from Sierra-Leone.I know this might be a surprise to
you about where I got your contact. I got your address from names directory
during when i was seeking for a reliable person who will honestly assist me
and my younger brother, Michael to realize our inherited funds into his/her
account and as well as invest it into a lucrative business.I am the only
daughter of Mr.Robert Kenga,former trade union president who was killed by
rebels on his way to Capital city,Freetown.Before his death,he deposited a
trunk box containing $10 million U.S Dollars with a Security Company in
Ghana for safe keeping and instructed that our next of kin/his foreign
business partner should claim it since we were not of age at the time of
deposit for investment.

After the death of our father,i and my younger brother, Michael escaped to
the Republic of Ghana where he had deposited the money in the Security
Company as a family valuables. And we were permitted to reside here as
Refugees. Because of our present and unpleasant status here in the camp, we
decided to contact you so as to assist us in moving this money out Of
Ghana because, as an asylum seekers, we are not allowed to operate any
financial transaction of such amount within Ghana.

We have agreed to offer you a negotiable amount for your assistance and the
rest will be for me and my younger brother, Michael to Invest in your
country. All we want you to do is to stand as our next of kin/our father's
partner so that this fund will be released to you for investment in your
country under your supervision.

We have all the vital documents covering the deposit and the ownership which
I can send them on request.Send your direct phone number for more
informations.I shall detail you more once i receive your acceptance
response.

I expect your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Grace.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam