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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "edwards mensah" <ed.mensah12@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: edward_mensah212@yahoo.it
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:00:41 -0500
Subject: did you get my mail?

Dear Sir,

It is my pleasure to write you after much consideration since telephone
communication cannot be
suitable enough to explain all this in details at first. I am Barrister
Edward Mensah, a legal Solicitor practicing in Accra Ghana. I was hired by
an American (Name Withheld) to act as his Personal Attorney and legal
adviser over here in Ghana. The American came to Ghana to negotiate on a
cocoa and Gold business where intended to invest in Ghana.

During his stay in Ghana, he explained in details to me his mission in
Ghana, and the huge sum of money he came with for the investment in Ghana.
After the on the spot assessment of the Gold business, he told me that he
wanted to fly first to New York to join a Caribbean cruise for a vacation of
a lifetime before he could come down to finally settle for the investment. I
then told him that I would be waiting for him whenever he returns for us to
go on with the business of the day.

At this juncture he asked me what he would do with the money he came to
Ghana with since it will be a risk to his person to take such huge sum of
money along with him to the vacation. When I asked how much he was talking
about, he said that he had $5.500.000 with him, but that he only intended to
travel with only $50,000.00. Since it was against the Law over here in Ghana
to make such deposit in Bank without proper proof and documentations to back
the money, I then advised him that he should secretly deposit the money in
any reputable Security Company in Accra Ghana.

He took my advice, and both of us put the money in a consignment, tagged it
Family Treasure and secretly deposited in a Security Company (Name with
held) before he traveled to New York to join a Caribbean cruise for a
vacation. He also stated that the consignment belonged to his American
Partner.

Unfortunately the trip to New York was not successful because the Aircraft
with number AF4590 which he was traveling with crashed killing all 109
passengers on Board including my client. Since after I confirmed that he was
among the dead in the crashed Airline, I have made frantic efforts to trace
his Family and all my efforts for over 5 years have proved abortive. You can
confirm about the crash through this website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Before he left for that ill-fated trip to New York, he left with me most of
the relevant documents issued to us on the date of deposit not knowing that
death was knocking. (May his soul rest in peace). I am therefore soliciting
for your assistance to help me claim this consignment containing the money
out from the security company as the American Partner to the late Depositor
as was stated in the cause of the deposit. If you accept to assist, I will
be forwarding to you the name of Depositor and the Security Company where
the consignment was deposited for you to officially apply for the release of
the consignment to you as the American Partner of the depositor as was
stated during the deposit.

If you are willing to assist me retrieve this very consignment, you should
contact me immediately for more details. If your application for the
release of the consignment to the Security Company is approved and the
consignment is released to you and the money is finally transferred out of
Ghana to your country, I will be coming over to your country for the final
sharing of the money. The money will be shared between both of us. You will
be entitled to 35% of the total sum, while 20% will be mapped out for
charity, 10% for any expenses that might arise in the course of the
transaction then the balance of 35% will be my share.

I am anxiously waiting to hear from you.

Barrister Edward Mensah.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam