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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
  • ",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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Kwame Mensah" <kwamemensah22a@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:28:30 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS


Dear Sir,

My name is Mr. Kwame Mensah , a banker here in Ghana. I write you this
proposal in good faith as a brother. In 2003 a Crude Oil dealer Late Mr.
Potgieter, Johannes Potgieter, Johannes, made a fixed deposit for 36
calendar months, valued at Seventeen Million, Five hundred Thousand U.S
Dollars (US$17,500,000.00) with my bank. I was his account officer before I
rose to the position of manager. The maturity date for this deposit contract
was 20th of August, 2006. I have tried my possible best to locate Mr.
Potgieter to notify him about this, but all my efforts proved abortive. I
later discovered that Mr.Potgieter, Johannes was killed by a Suicide bomber
in Baghdad Iraq. Unfortunately, he has no other living relatives to inherit
this fund.

http://icasualties.org

Now, a new Financial Law, which takes effect in two month's time, stipulates
that any bank account more than $5,000,000.00 [Five Million U.S Dollars]
will be investigated and the bank shall produce the account owner for
clearance. This is a Government measure to check money laundering. If I do
not find a way to move this money out of the country immediately, in two
month's time, it might be reverted to Government treasury because the bank
management cannot provide Mr. Potgieter, Johannes since he is now late. I am
seeking your co-operation to present you as the next of kin to the account
since you are a foreigner, so that my bank head quarters will release the
funds to you. It is only a foreigner who can claim the funds in the account.
Please, treat as top secret, I am the only
person having this information. But don't reply if you can not assist in
this transaction.

Regards,

Mr. Kwame Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam