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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "million united state 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • sokudzeto64@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:34:26 +0100
Subject: From: Mr. Sam Okudzeto


From: Mr. Sam Okudzeto
Director Bills & Exchange
BANK OF GHANA.
Email:sokudzeto64@yahoo.com

Good day,
I am Mr. Sam Okudzeto, the Director Bills & Exchange . I personally discovered a dormant account with a total sum of $39,000,000.00 (THIRTY NINE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) during our Bank's Annual Year Account Auditing.

The owner of this dormant account died on 5th Jan 2005. Since the death of the deceased, nobody has operated in this account till date. Moreover,

this account has NO BENEFICIARY attached to it. Definitely, this fund will be confiscated by our BANKING CODE OF ETHICS if it remains dormant for a period of (3) years without any claims. In this regard, I earnestly need your full cooperation in transferring this dormant fund out of our bank to avoid confiscating this fund. I will split the transfer into two 2 stages for easy and smooth transfer.

First, I will transfer $9,000,000.00 to any valid foreign account you will nominate, upon a successful transfer without any disappointment from your side, I will then fly to meet you in your home destination for sharing, and thereafter we jointly transfer the remaining balance of $30,000,000.00 for magnitude investments.

Note that you are required to furnish me with the requested information's bellow immediately;

(1)Full names.
(2)Contact address.
(3)Telephone and fax numbers.
(4)Location.

If you are willing to cooperate in this project, I will give you details immediately as soon as I hear from you. Please note that you are required to keep very confidential and you are required to get back to (sam_okudzeto@live.com)

Yours truly,
Mr. Sam Okudzeto
Director Bills & Exchange
BANK OF GHANA
sam_okudzeto@live.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam