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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Mr ilimane ben <ilmane_b@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 05:07:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: REPLY URGENTLY PLEASE


FROM MRS ILIMANE BENSON
ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE.

DEAR SIR.

MY NAME IS MRS ILIMANE BENSON ,FROM SIERRE LEONE I GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HERE IN ABIDJAN , REPUBLIC OF COTE D'IVOIRE ON MY SEARCH FOR HONEST AND RELABLE PERSON. MY HUSBAND DR THOMSON BENSON WAS THE MINISTER OF WORKS AND HOUSING IN SIERRA LEONE HE WAS KILLED BY THE REBELS DURING THE RENEWED POLITICAL CRISES IN MY COUNTRY.

SOURCE OF FUND.

THEIR WAS A CONTRACT AWARDED TO (ECWC FIRM) TO BUILD HOUSES AND INSTALLATION OF TELEPHONE SYSTEM. IT WAS DURING THE PROCESS OF THE CONTRACT THAT THE RENEWED POLITICAL CRISES COMMERCED. THE TUNE OF THE CONTRACT WAS (US$64M) SIXTY FOUR MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS.MY HUSBAND SHARED THE MONEY WITH THE ECOMOG PEACE KEEPING COMMANDER WHO HELPED HIM SMUGGLED THE MONEY OUT OF SIERRA LEONE TO A NEAR BY COUNTRY COTE D'IVOIRE. THE BALANCE OF US$12.5 MILLION WAS FINALLY DEPOSITED IN A BANK HERE IN COTE D'IVOIRE.

SIR/MADAM,PEACE HAS RETURNED IN MY COUNTRY , I AND MY SON HAS DECEDED TO FIND A RELIABLE PARTNER WHO WILL HELP US PROVIDE AN ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED FOR INVESTMENT TO HIS COUNTRY , ON ANY BUSINESS OF HIS CHOICE/ ADVISE. CONSIDRING THE FAMILY AND HOW THE MONEY WAS ORIGINATED WE WOULD NOT LIKE TO INVEST THE MONEY HERE IN AFRICA , THAT IS OUR MAIN REASON OF CONTACTING YOU.

WE HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL MONEY FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE.
WE WILL LIKE YOU TO TREAT THIS TRANSACTION WITH ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY CONSIDERING THE POPULARITY OF THE FAMILY INVOLVED.

I AWAIT FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

MRS ILIMANE BENSON.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam