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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:

• 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:
  • "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • koffiappiah@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Koffi Appiah <kofappiah037@msn.com>
Reply-To: <koffiappiah@indiatimes.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:06:03 +0000
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME



From: MR.KOFFI APPIAHBranch Manager,Continental Trust Bank57 Independence AvenueNorth Ridge, CantonmentsAccra, Ghana. Email: koffiappiah@indiatimes.comMy dear,My name is Mr.Koffi Appiah, I am the regional manager of Continental Trust Bank of Ghana. I write you this proposal in good faith. I am 42 years old married with two lovely kids. I am a devoted Christian, honest, honourable and a discreet businessman.I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and me, as the regional manager of the Continental Trust Bank 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 last year 2007 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made USD$11,720.000 (Eleven million seven hundred and twenty thousand united state dollars) which my head office are not aware of and will never be 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 30% of the total funds as commission.I am also willing to invest my own part of the money into any moving business in your country after the accomplishment of this project.There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank to bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.I will appreciate it if you are willing to work with me in this project.My private email address is koffiappiah@indiatimes.com. Mail me if you think we can work together so that we can go over the details. Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.Please indicate your interest in coming into partnership with me by providing me with your full information below:FULL NAMEADDRESSAGESEXOCCUPATIONMARITAL STATUSTELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER.Yours truly,MR. KOFFI APPIAH

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam