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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "(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.
  • alfredmartin@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Alfred Martin" <alfredmartin@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 10:11:13 -0700
Subject: MY DEAR FRIEND


ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES ECOWAS] GHANA OFFICE.
REPLY THROUGH (alfredmartin@sify.com)
MY DEAR FRIEND

RE: TRANSFER OF US$20,500,000.00 (TWENTY MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) TO A SAFE ACCOUNT.

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 ADMINISARTIVE regime, since the
inception of democracy in ECOWAS SUB-REGION STATES and carefully uncover and
mapped out a whopping sum US$20.5M which we want to transfer into your
account as the beneficiary.

You can authentically apply for supply if it interest you to be our client
with full guarantee from me. The money $20.5M 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. We have accepted you as
our foreign partner sum (US$20.5M (TWENTY MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY). Moreover,it is pertinent to note that it 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 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 urgent response with hope that you will
understand the confidential nature of this and its reality is a dream come
through.

Best regards,
Dr Alfred Martin.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam