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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "is 100% risk free" (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.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • kodjomensah970@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <kodjomensah970@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:07:30 +0000
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED



Mr.Kodjo MensahBank of GhanaAccra-GhanaDear Friend, I know this letter will come to you as a surprise because you do not know me before; my name is Mr.Kodjo MensahDirector Cargo Department, Bank of Ghana. During the airlift of some presidential luggages to Europe I and my colleagues in the above department unanimously decided to include additional luggage containing US$8million only for our own benefit though it was labeled \\\"Photographic Equipment\\\" for security reasons. I am obliged to contact you to assist us on getting the luggage cleared from the agent and delivered to you. As we have agreed on the following terms. (1) All relevant documents to claim the luggage will be procure in your name to enable the agent deliver the luggage to your mailing address. (2) You will be entitled to a share of 25% of the total amount. (3) 5% of the total amount will be set aside for expenses on both sides. (4) 70% of the total amount will be for my colleagues and me. If this business terms and conditions are okay by you, kindly contact me on my telephone number above or on my private email address: kodjomensah970@gmail.com, also, furnish me with your full names, mailing address and your personal telephone / fax numbers, for easier communication for immediate forwarding to the agent in Europe. Note that this business is 100% risk free, as all relevant documents to back up the claim will be procure on your name, however we advice you to keep the entire transaction close to yourself until you received the luggage. For security reasons other modalities will be discussed as soon as you response to me. Yours Faithfully, Mr. Kodjo MensahDirector Cargo Dept

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam