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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:
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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:
  • "escrow account with no beneficiary" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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: "Dr Wilson Annan" <drwilan@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2006 21:51:56 +0400
Subject: IMPORTANT AND CONFIDENTIAL

DEAR SIR / MADAM,

PERMIT ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, MY NAME IS DR. WILSON ANNAN THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF BARCLAY'S BANK OF GHANA. I AM FOURTY NINE (49) YEARS OLD, MARRIED WITH TWO LOVELY KIDS AND A MAN OF PEACE. I CAME ACROSS YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A WORTHY PARTNERSHIP FROM A YELLOW PAGE AND DECIDED TO APPROACH YOU IN GOOD FAITH.

I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I AND THIS IS A RISK FREE TRANSACTION.WITH MY POSITION IN THE BANK AND JOB OBLIGATIONS I DISCOVERED THREE YEARS AGO THAT MY BANK IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE A SURPLUS OF NINETEEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND US DOLLARS (US$19,680,000.00). SINCE THEN I HAVE CAREFULLY SECURED THIS FUND IN ESCROW ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY AND IT WILL REMAIN THERE EVEN TILL THE END OF TIME.

IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN A FINANCIAL REPORT OF OUR BRANCHES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BUT 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 THROUGH YOUR COMPANY OR PERSONAL ACCOUNT FOR CO-INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY AND GET 20% OF THE TOTAL FUND AS COMMISSION.I WILL PRESENT YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY TO THE DEPOSIT AND BACK IT WITH ALL THE NECESSARY PAPERS TO ENABLE THE HEAD OFFICE ORDER THE TRANSFER OF THE FUND INTO YOUR STATED ACCOUNT.THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISKS INVOLVED, IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER. ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS ABSOLUTE SINCERITY, TRANSPARENCY AND YOUR EXERCISING OF STRICTEST OF CONFIDENCE.

IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. PLEASE WRITE ME IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

SINCERELY YOURS,
DR.WILSON ANNAN.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam