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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
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "million united states dollars" (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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "DR GREGORY KWESI" <drgregorykwesi@caramail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:48:56 -0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSAL

FROM THE DESK OF AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING DEPT.
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA

DEAR SIR/MADAM.

REQUEST FOR URGENT CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL OF
$35,000,000:00

I am Dr Gregory Kwesi, the Director in charge of Auditing and Accounting
section of National Investment Bank
in West Africa and also Chairman of Investigating and Auditing Department
of this Bank. With due respect and
regard I have decided to contact you on a Business Transaction that we can
actualize with good faith.

During our Investigation and Auditing in this Bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging
to one Mr.Burke Sean, a foreigner, who died on November August 6th 1997 in
a plane crash Overseas,you can
search the web to see who is involve on it

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list

and the fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank without any
claim of the fund in our custody either
from his family or relation because he did not indicate any next of kin to
this account incase of death such as this.

Although personally, I keep this information secret within myself and
partners to enable the whole plans and idea be
profitable and successful during the time of execution. The said amount is
U.S $35m (Thirty Five Million United States Dollars).
As it may interest you to know, I got your impressive information through
one of my good friends who work with Chamber of
Commerce on foreign business relations here in Accra-Ghana. It is him who
recommended your person to me to be viable
and capable to champion a business of such magnitude without any problem.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam