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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• 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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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:
  • "drug clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "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. )
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment" (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: "Grey Adjetey Luke" <greyluke2000@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 14:13:48 +0100
Subject: Very Urgent with urgent reply


Dearest ,

I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we have not meet or
had a previous correspondence please bear with me, I will really like to
have a good relationship with you, and I have a special reason why I decided
to write you because of the urgency of my situation here...It gives me more
joy because I do believe that we both have to be open-minded and sincere as
to know each other deep down, share our thoughts, before I proceed further
let me introduce myself fully to you,

I am GREY LUKE ADJETEY 22 years old boy from Ghana, my hobbies are, reading
novels, jogging, listening to music, TV and movies. Am the last born of the
Late Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey who was the first speaker of parliament in the
Republic of Ghana, Before my fathers death he was a very well know in the
Ghana Parliamentary as well as the Government of the Republic of Ghana is
concern. My father was attack by unknown sickness where he was then taking
to the Military hospital where he passes a way in three days time. But in a
week before this sudden death he told me a lot about his life and how best
he have serve the nation Ghana that he has also set a huge sum of amount in
a security company in UK which given to him by one of his close friend as a
gift when he visit him in England, that I should not tell anyone in the
family about that. So I should try and go in for that money anytime he is
not alive so that I can invest it in my education and also in a company of
my choice. Why because I have a step mother who don't like me and he don't
know how I can cope with her when he is not alive. But now that he is no
more alive and yet still have not been berried I want to take this
opportunity to informed you about this fund in the security company in Uk so
that you can go now and start preparation of the fund to be released and
then after the funeral I will come over for us to have it share for you to
have your percentage as well.

It's my pressure to have you as my foreign partner now and stand in my name
to have everything done in legal way because I don't want to form victim in
this case. The fund is a total amount of 10million USD and will be release
to you from the Transworld Insurance Company manager of which I will give
you his needed information when you are ready to go and meet him up.I have
the entire needed document covering the consignment here with me in Ghana
now. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I
will put things into action immediately by send you the deposited slip,
ownership and the drug clearance certificate from the Republic of Ghana.

In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating
your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. I am
giving you this opportunity why because my late father is still not buried
and due to that I can not travel or go anywhere now. Please try your
possible best and let everything be done and done well and I promise you of
any percentage that you may request after this transaction why because I
have to live Ghana and I know with the little I will get it will help me in
my education and accommodation till I complete my education and have a very
good job as well.

I attached here my international passport,
Please do keep this only to your self please I beg you not to disclose it
till I come over , once the fund has been released and you have it in your
position.

Yours truly,
Grey Luke Adjetey

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam