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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: prince owusu <princeowusu8@yahoo.co.nz>
Reply-To: princeowusu6@yahoo.co.nz
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:16:43 +1200 (NZST)
Subject: PRIVATE MEMO


DEAR Sir,

RE: SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$7.500 MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT

MY NAME IS MR Prince Owusu. I AM THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR OF STANDARD CHARTERED BANK INTERNATIONAL GHANA IN THE EASTERN REGION OF GHANA. I GOT YOUR INFORMATION FROM A FRIEND WHO IS A MEMBER OF OUR TRADE MISSION. I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH. I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO LOVELY KIDS.

I AM A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN AND A MAN OF PEACE. I HAVE PACKAGED A
FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I. AS THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR TO THE STANDARD CHARTERED BANK INTERNATIONAL GHANA. IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN AN AUDITTED FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL CITY ACCRA AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR. IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR 2005 BUSINESS REPORT. I DISCOVERED THAT MY REGION IN WHICH I AM THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR MADE SEVEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDERED THOUSAND US DOLLARS($7,500,000.00) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF.

I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT WE CALL ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY. AS AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR OF THIS BANK I CAN NOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY. SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND YOU WILL GET 20% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION.

THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED. IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER; ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND TO CLAIM THIS FUND AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND WHO MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT. IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. ALL MODALITIES HAS BEEN PERFECTED. APPROVED DOCUMENTS WILL BE SENT TO YOU FOR YOUR PERUSAL AND RECORD PURPOSE

REPLY ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL BELOW IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS.
CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AND ONLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS
THANKS IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

YOURS TRULY

MR Prince Owusu

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam