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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Yaw Osafo <mr_yawosafo02@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: mryawosafo1965@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 14:05:44 +0100 (BST)
Subject: LET US WORK TOGRETHER FOR OUR GOOD


Dear Friend,

I hope this may not constitute sort of embarrassment to you, My name is Mr.Yaw Osafo,I am the regional bank manager of the international commercial bank of ghana,kaneshie branch of west region.

I came to know you in my Private Search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this Confidential Transaction with. I am 44 years of age and married with 3 lovely kids.
I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us, as the regional Auditor General of the international commercial bank Ltd. it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each year .

On the course of last year end of year report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made an excess profit of five million united states dollars [US$5,000,000.00] which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have since placed this money on what we call ESCROW ACCOUNT without any beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank I can not be directly connected to this money, this is why I am contacting you for us to work, so that you can assist and receive this money into your bank account for us to share. I will offer you 20% of the total amount for your assistance.

Note that there are practically no risks involved in this transaction , it will be bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of this money who made the deposit with my branch so that my Head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.

I wait soon to hear from you.

Thanks,

Mr Yaw Osafo
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam