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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.

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:
  • "transfer into your 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)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • jameskoddy1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James. K K" <jameskod001@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jameskodo@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:21:27 +0000
Subject: It's me JAMES.

Email - jameskoddy1@yahoo.com
Hello,

I wish to intimate you with this proposal in my capacity as a Chief
Accountant and in full agreement with the Auditor-General of this
ORGANIZATION (ECOWAS] IN GHANA OFFICE. We scrutinized all records and the
accounts of awarded and executed contracts of this
ORGANIZATION(ECOWAS)during the previous ADMINISTRATIVE regime, since the
inception of democracy in ECOWAS SUB-REGION STATES and carefully uncover and
mapped out a whopping sum of US$22M which we want to transfer into your
account as the beneficiary.

The money $22M has been approved for payment by this ORGANIZATION ECOWAS,
the Federal Ministry of Finance (endorsed by the Accountant General of the
ORGANIZATION) and to be paid by the Apex Bank of ECOWAS under contract
number, ECOWAS/OGN/FMF/GCB/B2517/99. As top civil servants, we are not
authorized to operate foreign bank accounts hence our decision to use your
account in full trust and confidence to transfer this money outside ECOWAS
SUB-REGION has been resolved. We desire to accept you as our foreign partner
over this sum (US$22M (TWENTY TWO MILLION, UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY).

Moreover, it is pertinent to note that achieving this is not risky and does
not require much engagement since we have taken care of the deal in full
capacity. We have resolved to give you 25% of the total sum for your
assistance. If you are interested in this deal, please, contact me through
my e-mail address above for more lively information. I am anxiously waiting
for your response with hope that you will understand the confidential nature
of this and its reality is a dream come through. I am waiting for your
immediate reply.

Best regards,

James Kodou.
Email - jameskoddy1@yahoo.com

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam