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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "executive governor" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: PAUL ACQUAH <pacoqa002@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <p_acquah105@yahoo.es>
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:59:25 +0000
Subject: FUND DELIVERY NOTIFICATION.


>From The Desk Of: Dr Paul Acquah.Executive GovernorBank of Ghana. Attention, In our response to instruction from the Federal Government of Ghana, torelease and pay you your US$10.7m (Ten million, Seven hundred thousandUnited State dollars) as your contract payment. I, Dr. Paul Acquah, The Governor Bank of Ghana, Accra Ghana, inconjunction with the undersigned authorities on this day issue the release ofyour funds payment of US$10.7m (Ten million, Seven hundred thousandUnited State dollars) by Diplomatic Courier Delivery. As a result of Terrorist Attack in America and its Global effect, theFederal Government of Ghana has directed that all foreign payment atthis time that involved huge sums of money should be paid by this methodas measure to check Terrorist Account Operation.As a result of that, we are using this method to pay our customersoutside the country. In line with this development, you are hereby advice to forward your address where you would like the Fund to be delivered including yourcurrent Telephone Numbers. As soon as the above mentioned details are received, your payment willbe made to you via diplomatic courier delivery. A diplomat with International travel immunity will be contracted todeliver the funds at your doorstep. Dr Paul Acquah,Executive Governor,Bank of Ghana (BOG).
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam