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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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 friend" (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: "Mr David Appiah" <mrappiah24@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: manager_davidappiah@yahoo.it
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:28:14 +0000
Subject: Urgent Message From Mr David

From Mr.David Appiah.

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr.David Appiah.I am a retired banker of International Commercial
Bank in Ghana West Africa. I am a Christian.

I do not want problems but I just hope you can assist me. I write you this
letter in good faith, I have a transaction of Fourmillion five hundred and
twenthy Thousand US dollar.($4,520,000.00USD).

I realized this fund from bank excess profit after trading with the capital
sum and I deposited the funds in ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT; where nobody will have
access to it; even the bank does not have access to this account because it
cannot be deducted; until after the transfer.

Finally I did not declare this fund to the bank before my retirement. I am
contacting you, to stand as the beneficiary of this fund because only a
foreigner can stand as the beneficiary.

Can I trust you to hold this money for me until I come over to
yourcountry?After the transfer, I will give you 30% of the money as your
commission. If you accept my offer, but if you do not accept this offer
kindly forget that I contacted you.

All I need is for you to get a good current account where this fund can be
transferred into and for you to stand as the beneficiary of the said amount;
within six days the funds will be transferred to your designated bank
account.

There are practically no risks involved; it will be a bank-to-bank
transfer.I hope you understand my situation. I am critically ill that is why
I contacted you to finalize this transaction to enable me have a very good
treatment.

Thank you and God bless.

Warm regards,
Mr. David Appiah.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam