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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • mkofimensah@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Kofi Mensah <mkofimensah@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mkofimensah@ymail.com
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:27:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT


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



- BELOVED, MY NAME IS MR.kofi Mensah, FROM SUDAN; ALTHOUGH THIS PROPOSAL MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE I AM SENDING THIS MAIL TO YOU IN A GOOD FAITH BY THE GRACE OF GOD TO BUILD AN UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN YOU. MY FATHER DR. THOMSON mensah (OF HIS BLESSED MEMORY) WAS THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT TO THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE IN THE PAST POLITICAL REGIME IN SUDAN. DURING HIS VIBRANT DAYS OF SERVICES, HE DEPOSITED; AMOUNT WHAT OF SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS ($7. 000.000 ) IN A SECURITY COMPANY AS A FAMILY ITEMS FOR SECURITY REASONS, HERE IN ACCRA GHANA THE NEAREST COUNTRY WEST AFRICAN BECAUSE AS A CIVIL SERVANT HE CANNOT KEEP THIS FUNDS IN HIS PRIVATE ACCOUNT IN OUR COUNTRY. I AM THEREFORE SOLICITING FOR A HELP. I WANT YOU TO HELP ME RECEIVE THE FUNDS OVERSEA FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES. MY LATE FATHER SIGNED A CONTRACT BOND WHICH STATED THAT HE WILL CLAIM THESE BOXES WITH HIS FOREIGN PARTNER ABROAD BUT UNFORTUNATELY; WE LOST HIS PARTNER IN LONDON AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS, MAY HIS SOU!
L REST IN PERFECT PEACE. THAT IS THE MORE REASON WHY I NEED YOUR HELP BECAUSE OUR PROPOSED PARTNER IS DEAD AND THE COMPANY HAS GIVEN US THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO WILL STAND AND RECEIVE THE BOXES, ALL THE DEPOSIT DOCUMENTS WHICH MY LATE FATHER USED TO DEPOSIT THE BOX IN THE SECURITY COMPANY IS WITH US HERE IN GHANA.. I PROMISED TO OFFER YOU 35% FOR YOUR HELP AND ANY EXPENSES INURED. (BOTH AS MISCELLANEOUS AND ACCRUED EXPENSES). I PRAY THAT THE GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY THROUGH HIS INFINITE MERCY WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU MORE ABUNDANTLY. PLEASE DO REPLY ME IF YOU ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL, I WILL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST. BEST REGARDS. FROM: kofi mensah.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam