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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • charls_gbe@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Charls Charls <charls_gbe@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: charls1908@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:04:54 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Very Urgent ,please Respond


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



- My Name is Mr.Charls Akagbeli, The Branch Manager,Ghana Commercial bank, Accra, Ghana . Dear Friend, I write you this proposal in good faith and It is my pleasure to seek for your assistance, and you should consider it very important. This is an opportunity that I can not live to miss. I am 42 years old married with two lovely kids. I am a devoted Christian, honest, honorable and a discreet businessman. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and me, as the regional manager of the Ghana Commercial 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$23,680.000 (Twenty three million six hundred and eighty 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 in this project. Upon your confidential interest, respond through my e-mail address . Mail me if you think we can work together so that we can go over the details. I sincerely request your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law. while it will take only 7 working days the funds will be in your nominated Bank account. I requested, you should forward the following information below to me for a quicker communication. Full Name, Adress.Age.Occupation. Marital Status ..Tele/ Fax . Thank you in advance and May God bless. Yours truly, Mr.Charls Akagbeli

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam