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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "million us 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.
  
• 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.
  • bensonkaddo@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: benson addo <bensonhaddo@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2006 05:33:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Greetings


From: Mr Addo benson
Tel: + 233-24-2149336
Email bensonkaddo@hotmail.com


Dear Friend,


I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against your will.

I have to introduce myself first; my name is Addo benson a banker working with one of the leading banks in West Africa. In this bank existed a dormant account for the past years, which belong to a Syrian national who is now late. When we discovered that there had been neither deposits nor withdrawals from this account for some time I decided to carry out a system investigation and discovered that none of the family member or relations of the owner is aware of this account. This is the story in a nutshell. Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer these funds.

Thereafter, I had planned to destroy all related documents for this account. It is a careful network and for the past six months I have worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation.

The amount at the moment, plus all the accumulated interest in this account stands at US$52,000,000.00 (Fifty-two million US dollars).

Now our questions are: -

1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
3. What will be your commission?

Consider this and get back at me as soon as possible.
Finally, it is my humble prayer that the information as contained here in is accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves.

I hope my message did not come as an embarrassment to you, but if it does please kindly accept my apologies.

Thanks in anticipation.

Respectfully yours,

Mr. Addo benson
(Ghana, West Africa)


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam