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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Williams <willyasare5@gmail.com>
Reply-To: willyasare@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:13:49 -0700
Subject: Greetings-From Mr.Williams.


FROM THE DESK OF MR.WILLIAMS.

Greetings:

My name is Mr. William Asare, I am the Ashanti Regional manager of Barclays
Bank of Ghana in West Africa. I am a Christian. I do not want problems but I
just hope you can assist me. I write you this letter in good faith.

I am in control of Seven million, eight hundred and Fifty thousand US
dollars($7,850,000.00) and I Realized the excess profit from a contract that
was Awarded to a foreign company here in Ghana by the World Health
organization to supply ante-natal and Post-natal drugs to rural areas in
Ghana and other West African countries. This said money for the Supply of
drugs was first deposited to the Bank Where I work.With my position as the
manager, I trade with the Money in Ghana stock market before the contractors
Withdrew the money for the said purpose. I deposited the profit I made on
Escrow call account and I did not declare this to my head office.

I am contacting you, to stand as the beneficiary of this fund because as the
regional manager I don't have to be involved with this kind of amount of
money.I can move this money to our offshore filtering center London covering
the region, but can I rely trust you to hold this money for me until I
arrive your country and pick it up you and myself deduct 25% of the money as
your commission. If you accept my offer you can contact me only on my
private phone number or email-address. If you do not accept can you forget I
contacted you?

All I need is for you to get me a good current account in your bank where I
can move this money.

There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank to bank transfer.
I hope you understand my situation.

Thank you and God bless.
Yours truly,
Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam