419 scam: "Bank of Ghana"<bog@bog.org> Hi..

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- "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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Bank of Ghana" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@bog.group-gov.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:24:06 -0800
Subject: Hi..

FROM THE DESK OF THE GOVERNOR
BANK OF GHANA
GOVERNOR AMISSAH- ARTHUR
http://bog.group-gov.com

ATTN DEAR VALUED CONTRACTOR,

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.

>From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the
federal government of west Africa your name and company was discovered as
next on the list of the outstanding contractors/Next of Kin who have not received
their payments.

I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be
released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that
from my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is us$15.7
million dollars (fifteen million seven hundred thousand united states dollars).

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your

record and also re-confirm to me the followings

1) your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile
3) company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.

As soon as this information are received, your payment will be made to you
in an ATM card or wired to your bank account directly from Bank of Ghana and
a copy will be given to you for you to take to your bank and confirm it.

Regards,

GOVERNOR AMISSAH-ARTHUR
GOVERNOR, BANK OF GHANA.
http://bog.group-gov.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam