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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:
  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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "to effect the transfer to 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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "(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.
  • skyebgha5@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Skye Bank Ghana Ltd <skyebgha5@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: skyebankghanltd@sify.com
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:02:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: SWIFT TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: skyebgha5@yahoo.com



- Mr. Kwame Morgan Skye Bank, Accra-Ghana ATTN: SIR, RE: SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$4.7 MILLION INTEREST INTO YOUR ACCOUNT I am MR. KWAME MORGAN, the Head of Treasury Department of SKYE BANK ACCRA GHANA. This is to officially inform you that sometime ago, in our bank your funds was brought to our bank from Economic Community of West African Foreign Payment Panel made of the subsequent countries like: Ghana, Togo, Rep. Benin, Senegal, Ivory-coast, Gambia, Mali, etc. (Ecowas), AND AFTER SOME PERIOD OF TIME, They call the funds back to their treasury in World Bank. For this period of time the funds was in our bank, it generated an interest of US$4.7 Million, which we considered your long suffering as one of the Foreigners that has not received his/her payment and we decide to pay you this interest funds via Swift Transfer into your account. The following are needed from your to effect the transfer to your account: 1. Name and Address of your bank 2. Your account number and swift code if any 3. Any form of your identification for example; you’re international passport number or your driving license number. 4. Fax and Telephone number for easy communication In view of this you are hereby instructed to contact this office immediately you receive this Email message and reconfirm your bank particulars. The Skye Bank is therefore apologizing for any delay you might have encountered in contacting you. We poised to serve you better, waiting to hear from you, please do reply to this E-mail: skyebankghaltd@strompost.info for more clarification. Thanks and God bless you in all your endeavors towards receiving your fund in good faith. Best Regards, MR. KWAME MORGAN HEAD OF TREASURY DEPARTMENT SKYE BANK ACCRA GHANA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam