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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:
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "cotonou" (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.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22921338080 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • info_continental_bank@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: barrister philip Egutete ferenc <barrister_egutete_phi@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 06:42:19 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: TRANSACTION


TEXT OF APPLICATION OF CLAIM
.................................................... ..............

FROM : ..........................
ADDRESS:.........................
TEL:.............................
FAX:.............................
E- MAIL:.........................
DATE:............................

ATTN: MR.MR.DOYLE WILLIAM.
THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS,
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT,
CONTINENTAL BANK BENIN,
45 RUE DE AGOE COTONOU,
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
www.continentalbank.be.cx
FAX: +229 21 33 80 80
TEL;+229 93 23 31 53
EMAIL: info_continental_bank@yahoo.com


DEAR SIR,

APPLICATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF USD11,500,000.00(ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS)FROM THE ACCOUNT NUMBER A/C 65652000 OF LATE MR MARK CAMPOS.

PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT I WISH TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF USD11,500,000.00(ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) FROM ACCOUNT N° A/C 65652000 OF MY LATE BUSINESS PARTNER, MR MARK CAMPOS TO THE NEW ACCOUNT DETAILED BELOW.

BANK NAME:......................
BANK ADDRESS:...................
BANK A/C NO :...................
BENEFICIARY:....................

THIS IS THE MONEY LEFT BEHIND IN YOUR BANK BY MY BUSINESS PARTNER, MR MARK CAMPOS, WHO DIED WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN A GHASTY AUTO ACCIDENT.

HE WAS A CITIZEN OF MY COUNTRY, BUT RESIDES IN COTONOU,REPUBLIC OF BENIN AND OWNED ( X-RAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY,COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC).

I AM HIS BUSINESS PARTNER AND NAMED NEXT OF KIN TO ALL HIS BELONGINGS. I WISH AS HIS HEIR APPARENT TO CLEAR AND INSTRUCT THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED AMOUNT BE TRANSFERED INTO MY NOMINATED ACCOUNT AS SHOWN ABOVE.

PLEASE ACCEPT THIS LATE APPLICATION AS IT WAS DUE TO THE FAMILY LOGISTIC PROBLEMS CONSEQUENT UPON HIS FUNERAL RITES.

I HOPE YOU WILL EXPEDITE ACTION.
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION

YOURS SINCERELY,

................... ...............
MADRAS HOUSE.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam