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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "to your nominated bank 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.George Ekpo" <ekpo11_2@msn.com>
Reply-To: gtmail123@sify.com
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:41:59 +0000
Subject: URGENT

Sir,

I got your contact during my private search for a reliable, trust worthy and
honest person to introduce this transfer project.

Am Mr.George Ekpo, the regional Auditor General of International Commercial
Bank of Ghana, First Light Branch. I am a Ghanaian married with two kids.
I'm residing at plot 1740 Tema community in the out sketch of Accra, our
country's capital city. I am writing to solicit for your assistance in this
noble transfer of US$18,750,000 United States Dollars. This fund is the
excess of what my branch in which I'm the regional Auditor General made as
profit last year. I have already submitted an approved end of the last
Year's report to my Head Office here in Accra and they will never know of
this Excess.

I have since placed this amount on a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.
As an officer of the bank, I cannot directly be connected to this money,
that is why I was compelled to request for your assistance for you to
receive this money into your bank account.

It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to your nominated bank account
anywhere you feel safer. All I need from you is to stand as the original
depositor of this fund. If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your
timely response with your full contact details, your ID (International
passport), direct telephone and fax numbers.

With regards,
Mr.George Ekpo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam