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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (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: "ABDUKARIM MUSA" <abdukarim3@ldsliving.com>
Reply-To: abdukarimmusa2000@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:22:06 -0700
Subject: URGENT PLEASE


From Alhji Abdukarim Musa


Greetings to you,

This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only a
day that people meet and become great friends/ business partners. I am
Osmond Attah, currently Head of Corporate Affairs Department with a
reputable bank here in Ghana. I write you this proposal in good faith,
believing that I can trust you with the information I am about to reveal to
you.

I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On June
5th, 2000, a German business tycoon Mr. Andreas Schranner made a (Fixed
deposit) for 60 calendar months, valued at US$12,500,000.00 (Twelve Million
Five hundred Thousand Dollars only) in my bank and I happen to be his
account officer before I was moved to my present position recently. The
maturity date for this deposit contract was last 3rd of April 2005. Before
this date, I have tried my possible best to locate a Next of Kin to late Mr.
Schranner, but all efforts proved abortive, because all his family,
including his Son In-Law and children died in the plane crash of Concorde
Air France Flight AF4590 which took place on 25th July 2000, some months
after he did the deposit in my bank. You can read more story about the plane
crash by visiting this website; <
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm>

With the recent change of government in my country and with their efforts to
support the United Nations in checkmating terrorism aid in Ghana. By end of
October this year, the Government will pass a new Financial Control Law
which will give the Government authority to interrogate account owners of
above $5 million Dollars to explain the source of the funds, making sure it
is not for terrorism support. If I do not move this money out of the country
immediately, by October the Government will definitely confiscate the money,
because my bank cannot provide the account owner to explain the source of
the money since he is late.

I decided to utilize this life time opportunity, instead of Government
confiscating the, but I cannot directly claim the money without the help of
a foreigner and that is why I am contacting you for an assistance. As the
Account Officer to late Mr. Schranner, coupled with my present position and
status in the bank, I have the power to influence the release of the funds
to any foreigner that comes up as the Next of Kin to the account, with the
correct information concerning the account, which I shall give you. I am
having the secret Code for the account, which only the account owner or his
Next of Kin can know. I shall supply all necessary information we need for
the claim and there is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of law, beside Ghana is porous and anything goes.

If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you wish us to share
the funds in percentage, so that both parties will be satisfied. I shall
explain to you in details how we shall handle the transaction once I receive
your response. Thanking you in advance and may God bless you. Please, treat
with utmost confidentiality. I shall send you copy of the deposit slip
issued to Mr. Schranner when the deposit was made for your perusal. I wait
your urgent response.

Regards,
Alhji Abdukarim Musa

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam