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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
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "the consignment " (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 next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • mkkamara@terra.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Kamara"<mkkamara@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:52:07 -0000
Subject: Respond Immediately

Dear Sir,

Investment offer, I am a refugee here in Ghana as a result of the Sierra-Leone war that left million dead and disabled. I am Michael the only surviving son of a member of parliament (MP) and diamond merchant who was killed by rebels, now a refugee in Ghana west Africa. After muchatrocities ,human right abuses(rape, amputations etc).

During my father's term in office he had a foreign partner abroad and he deposited a total sum of US$18.5Million with a private security company in Ghana which he wanted to transport to him. But unfortunately he has not issued the instruction before he was killed. In the deposit /claim documents, my late father mentioned my name as the next of kin.

Due to my present situation as a refugee in Ghana, I do not have status to own this money, I want you to act as my father's foreign partner to assist me claim this Consignment from the Security company.

It will interest you to note that all relevant documents relating to this claims are with me and I am ready to hand them over to you once you indicate your interest to help me out of our present predicament.

After the claim of the consignment you will help me to travel to your country where we will invest the money in a profitable business venture that will be headed by your good self. Kindly reply this message to enable us start processing of the claims.

Please send a copy of your resposese to mkkamara@terra.es

Thanks

Michael

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam