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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • gyeboah38@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "OWUSU GODWIN" <gg_owusu12@livedoor.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:58:03 +0100
Subject: LET US WORK TOGETHER


Dear Friend,

*RE: SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$15.500 MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.*


My name is *Dr. Godwin Owusu*. I am the regional manager of international
commercial bank Ghana ltd in the Eastern Region of Ghana. I got your
information from a friend who is a member of our trade mission. I write you
this proposal in good faith. I am 42 years old married with two lovely kids.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and i as the
regional manager of the international commercial bank Ghana. It is my duty
to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city at the
end of each business year in the course of the; last year business report i
discovered that my region in which i am the manager made *Fifteen Million
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($15, 500.000.00)* which my head
office are not aware of and will never be aware of.

I have placed this funds on what is call escrow / sundry account with no
beneficiary as an officer of this bank i can not be directly connected to
this money. So my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money
in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds as commission.

There are practically no risks involved it will be a 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 my branch so that my head office can order the
transfer to your designated bank account. If you accept to work with me i
will appreciate it very much.

Reply me through my private email if you think we can work together so that
we can go over the details. Contact me immediately and only through this
email address. * <gyeboah38@yahoo.com>*

Thanks in advance and may God bless you and your family.

Yours truly
*Dr. Godwin Owusu*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam