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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (a common phrase found 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.
  • icbedward29@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "DR EDWARD" <dr_edward_777@ig.com.br>
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:23:06 +0100
Subject: CALL FOR URGENCY.


Attention:Pls


I wish to notify you that I am privileged to peruse over your profile today
I am greatly impressed on your person. With all due respect, I guess my
letter will not embarrass you, since I have no previous correspondence with
you. I strongly believed, I would not regret approaching you in this matter.
My name is Mr George Vanores, I am regional manager of International
Commercial Bank,Accra Ghana.


I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business. Though, this
medium (Internet) has been greatly abused; I choose to each you through it
because it still remains the fastest medium ofcommunication. However, this
correspondence is unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such.


I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I, as the
regional manager of the International Commercial Bank(ICB) it is my duty to
send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at
the end of each business year. on the course of the year
2007 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager,
made four million five hundred thousand united state dollars
($4,500,000.00)which my head office are not aware of .


I have placed this funds on what we call (escrow call account) with no
beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to
this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money
in your bank account and get 40% of the total funds as
commission.


There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank transfer,
and all I need from you is to stand and claim as the original depositor of
the 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 send your Tel/fax numbers for easy
communication. I will appreciate it very much if you reply me so that we can
go over on details.


Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.I earnestly await
your response Email icbedward29@gmail.com


Yours truly


Mr. Edward .

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam