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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Kofi Adam" <mrkofiadam1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrkofiadam2000@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:13:29 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE


DEAR FRIEND,
MY NAME IS MR,KOFI ADAMS I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAYS BANK GHANA
LTD,TAKORADI BRANCH IN THE WESTERN REGION OF GHANA WEST AFRICA.

I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH, I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO
KIDS. I AM A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF PEACE.I HAVE PACKAGED A
FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I,AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER 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 BUSINESS YEAR.

ON THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR 2006 BUSINESS REPORT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY
BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE FIVE MILLIONS,US
DOLLARS($5,000,000,00) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOTAWARE OF AND WILL NEVER
BE AWARE OF.I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT WE CALL ESCROW ACCOUNT WITH NO
BENRFICIARY.

AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CANNOT 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 20% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION. THERE ARE PRACTICALLY
NO RISK INVOLVED,IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER, ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS
TO STAND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUNDS 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. YOU CAN REACH
ME ON MY EMAIL AS APPEARED ON THIS MAIL IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO
THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.

YOURS TRULY
MR,KOFI ADAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam