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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +2289980966 (Togo, 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.
  • lawfirmtg01@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "CHIRS KOFFI" <chris_koffi01@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:00:52 +0000
Subject: Private message to ..... Theo Smit



Legal Attorney And Solicitor

From : The Principal Attorney
Koffi Chambers & Associates.
(Legal Practitioners).
45 Rue Boulevard
Lome-Togo
Tel: 00 228-998-0966.


Dear Theo Smit ,

I have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this matter.Let me start
by introducing myself properly to you.

I am Barrister Christopher Koffi , Personal Attorney to your late uncle
Engr.J C.Smit (Snr) a contractor with the Federal Government of lome-togo,
until his death last three years ago in political crisis in Abidjan capital
of Cote d'Ivoire,He Banked with South West Merchant Bank ,lome-togo and had
a closing balance as at the end of September, 2003 worth
US$20.5,000,000.00(Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars).

The Bank now expects the Next of Kin to come forward as Beneficiary.Efforts
has been made by the South West Merchant Bank of lome-togo to get in touch
with any of the Deceased Family Relatives,but they have met with no success.

As the deceased being a foreigner,that was why I decided to contact you so
that you can put claim on this fund as you bear the same last name with him.

Now the management under the influence of the bank Chairman and Members of
the Board of directors, that arrangement has been made for the fund to be
declared Unclaimed In order to avert this negative development, it is my
duty to contact you so that you can stand as the next of kin to his
properties.

All documents and proof to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked
out by me for this claim.

I have secured from the probate an order of Mandamus to locate any of the
deceased beneficiaries,and more so I am assuring you that this claim is 100%
risk free.

Now it is left for you to deceide on what you will give me as my percentage
for assisting you in this claim.I hope to hear from you soon or call me
immediately you receive this mail.

I want to let you know that this trasaction have to be done legitimately and
confidential as i dont want any one to know that you are not the right
applicant.

Waiting to hear from you soon.

Yours in Service,

Signed.......
Barrister Christopher Koffi (Esq)



From : The Principal Attorney
Royal Chambers & Associates.
(Legal Practitioners).
45 Rue Boulevard
Lome-Togo
Tel: +228-998-0966.
Email:lawfirmtg01@myway.com

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam