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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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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 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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mrdavidkofour20@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 00:38:20 +0800
Subject: GOD BLESS YOU.


*From. Mr.David Kofour
Standard Chartered Bank of Ghana.


Dear Friend,

My name is Mr.David Kofour. I am the regional manager of Standard Chartered
Bank of Ghana Takoradi Branch in the western region of Ghana. I got your
information on a recent bank conference with other West African countries
held in Lome the capital city of Togo in West Africa.

I write you this proposal in good faith, I am 44 years old married with two
lovely 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 Standard Chartered Bank 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 Three Million Seven hundred and thirty
thousand united state dollars ($3,730,000.00) which my head office are not
aware of and will never be aware of.

I have placed this funds on what we 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.

There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank transfer,
and 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 I will appreciate it very much.

Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family,
Yours truly.

Mr.David Kofour.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam