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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Mark Mensah <mark.mensah@ymail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 02:12:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL


=A0
CONFIDENTIAL=20
TRANSFER OF=A0$38 MILLION U.S DOLLARS.
>From the desk of: Mr.=A0Mark Mensah=A0=A0=A0
=A0
Dear=A0=A0Beloved Friend=A0,=20
=A0
I
am making this contact=A0with you on behalf=A0of my=A0company
after satisfactory information we gathered from the Ghana Chamber of
commerce and industries. I am a member of=A0(Tender Board
Committee)=A0of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation=20
(G.N.P.C)Tema. Our duties include award Evaluation, and review of Contracts=
..
=A0
In
the Year 2001 the government awarded a contract to my company, the
contract of 350-000.000 (THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION U.S DOLLARS),
is for an engineering procurement, construction of pipeline network at
tema=A0oil refinery plant
..The actual contract sum was deliberately=A0paid over invoice to
us=A0(T.B.C) The project was executed and the contract=A0Paid
accordingly.
=A0=20
I
and my colleagues have=A0made=A0every arrangement to move this
fund into your personal account in your country,=A0for an investment
plan.=A0=A030% is for you as the sole beneficiary and owner of
account,=A0=A0 and 70% left for us the officials G.N.P.C.
I=A0will appreciate if this transaction will be=A0treated with
utmost confidentiality.=20
=A0
I do hope I can trust you, as a regard in light of this I would like you to=
forward to=A0the following information.
=A0
1) YOUR BANK NAME AND ADDRESS.
2) YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER.
3) YOUR PERSONAL TEL AND FAX NUMBERS.
4) NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIARY COMPANY CORPORATION. =A0=20
=A0
This will enable us to forward the information to our apex bank, Ghana Comm=
ercial Bank for the purpose=A0of processing the immediate transfer of this =
fund into your account as the sole beneficiary.
=A0
Please note that=A0after this transaction, you will be giving an invitation=
..
=A0
Your quick response will be highly appreciated.=20
=A0
Please reach me on my e- mail:=A0mark.mensah@ymail.com=A0
Best regards,
=A0
Mr.=A0Mark Mensah
(Chairman G.N.P.C)=A0
+233-248122539=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam