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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • koffih1@web2mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Koffi Appiah" <kappiah13@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 13:43:50 +0100
Subject: REQUEST FOR URGENT CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS


GHANA MINISTRY OF MINE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
P.O.BOX M944,7 SWITCHAVENUE,ACCRA.
ACCRA-GHANA

FROM THE DESK OF : MR KOFFI APPIAH.

COMPLIMENT OF SEASON,REQUEST FOR URGENT CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS

After due deliberation with my colleagues, I decided to forward this
proposal to you. We want a reliable person who could assist us to transfer
the sum of Twleve Million United States Dollars (US$12,000,000.00)into
his/her account.

This fund resulted from an over-invoced bill from contract awarded by us
under the budget allocation to my ministry and the bill was approved for
payment by the concerned ministries. The contract has been executed,
commissioned and the contractor was paid the actual cost of the contract. we
are left with the balance of US$12,000,000.00 as part of the over-invoiced
amount, which we have deliberately over estimated for our own. I am
contacting you to be our custodan for this fund. on the receipt of this, we
have agreed on this below sharing ratio:- (1) 25% for you as the account
owner,(2) 70% for us,(3) 5% for Tax, as may required by our Government and
your government.

As you may want to know and to make you less curious, I got your address
from adverts, in business directory that protrayed your establishment in
good light. I am the Secretary of the Contract Review Committee (C.R.C)of
the Ghana Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources (GMMNR). This transaction
is very much free from all sorts of RISK and TROUBLE from my Government. We
have been exercising patience for this great business opportunity for so
long and to most of us, this is a life time opportunity we cannot affford to
miss.

To get this fund paid into your account, we have to present a Payment
Invoice from a foreign establishment like yours. With this invoice, we will
seek approval to transfer the fund within 14 banking days through the APEX
BANK (C.B.G) to your designatd Bank Account. I and one of my colleague
involved in this deal will come to your country to arrange for our share
upon the confirmation from you that the money has been credited into your
nominated Bank Account.

Consequently, upon your acceptance of my proposal kindly confirm your
interest by revert email to me through my email [koffih1@web2mail.com] and
your indication of your sincereity and serious interest to accomplished this
business opoortunity with me, then the procedures of your operation is
needed due to the fact that this deal is not for child's play. It will
surprise you why we choose you and trust you for this transaction. Yes, we
believe that good friends can be discovered and business like this cannot be
realized without trust.

Be further informed that everyone's interest and security had been
considered before you were contacted. So be rest assured and feel free to go
into this transaction with us. With all pleasure, we are looking forward for
your urgent response but endeavor to maintain the utmost confidentiality
required.please contact me on this email address [koffih1@web2mail.com]

Thank you,
Best regards,
Mr. Koffi Appiah.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam