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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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there is no risk 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: "Daniel Kwasi" <dannkwasi3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrdankwasi@live.com
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:20:34 -0700
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED


*NAME ; MR.DANIEL KWASI
THE REGIONAL MANAGER
BARCLAYS BANK OF GHANA
CAPE COAST BRANCH

DEAR FRIEND,

I WISH TO CONTACT YOU ON A GOOD BUSINESS WHICH I WANT YOU TO ASSIST ME
AND RECEIVE THIS FUND INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY FROM THE GOOD
REPORT RECEIVED ABOUT YOU AND BELIEVING THAT THIS WILL REALLY WORK OUT
BETWEEN BOTH OF US.

I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAYS BANK OF GHANA LTD CAPE COAST BRANCH IN
THE CENTRAL REGION OF GHANA A FAMILY MAN, DEVOTED CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF
PEACE. I DISCOVERED THIS MONEY EIGHT MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND
UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($8.540USD) ON THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR 2007
BUSINESS FINANCIAL REPORT AND I HAVE PACKAGED A TRANSACTION THAT WILL
BENEFIT YOU AND I, AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAYS BANK OF GHANA LTD
CAPE COAST BRANCH, 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. I HAVE
PLACED THIS FUND ON WHAT WILL CALL ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY.

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 35% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION.

PLEASE THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED, IF YOU CAN WORK WITH MY INSTRUCTIONS AND
THIS BUSINESS WILL BE A BANK-TO-BANK TRANSFER, ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO
STAND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THESE 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 ON TRUST I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH OR
EMAIL ME WITH THE ABOVE ADDRESS.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND I WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU SO SOON.

YOURS TRULY.
MR. DANIEL KWASI.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam