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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ata william" <williamata_ghana@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 04:28:25 -0700
Subject: PLEASE REPLY


DEAR FRIEND,



MY NAME IS WILLIAM ATA. I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK LTD; GHANA TAKORADI BRANCH IN THE WESTERN REGION OF GHANA.I
GOT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION THROUGH MY SEARCH ON THE WEB.

I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH. I AM 44 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO
LOVELY KIDS. I AM A MAN OF PEACE.I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION
THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I. AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL 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 2007 BUSINESS REPORT. I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN
WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE FOUR MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES
DOLLARS (US$4,500,000.00) 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 CAN NOT 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 30% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION. THERE ARE
PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED, IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER; ALL I NEED
FROM YOU IS TO STAND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND 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. REPLY ME IF
YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS. THANKS IN
ADVANCE AND MY REGARDS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

YOURS TRULY

MR WILLIAM ATA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam