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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• 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.
  • +22995062016 (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.
  • godfreyamahuo01@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ecowas ecowas" <ecowas@marsool.com>
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:24:23 +0300
Subject: REVALIDATION PAYMENT


ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN
STATES MONITORING INSTITUTION
ADDRESS: 128 BOULEVARD CIRCULAIRE
ECOWAS FUND BUILDING B:P BENIN REPUBLIC
SECURITY TEL +229 950 620 16
SECURITY FAX +229 213 242 46
Email: godfreyamahuo01@netscape.net

Dear Sir/Madam

Compliments of the day, I know you will be surprised to red this letter
from us,We deemed it necessary and urgent to notify you finally about the
outstanding settlement of your over due payment.

From the records of outstanding clients due for payment with the
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES MONITORING INSTITUTION your name and
your company was discovered among the list of the outstanding clients who have
not received their payments, Because of the dubious attitude of the apex
institution in Africa who have made things difficult to their dear
client.

Based On the detailed verification and reconciliation of your file ,it
was crystal to us that you are the rightful bonafide beneficiary to the
said fund which has been delayed due to lack of information of which you were
misled and misguided about the position of this fund that made it too longer up
till date.

However after our due checking of your file and it was atisfactory
approved for payment that is why you have to disengage from any body or
impersonated officers who claim to be in position of your fund, thereby
misleading and having the opportunity to extort money from you. Because of this
outstanding problem, the president committee on contractual matters has decided
to pay this fund to you through our paying bank in USA Bank of America.

We have concluded all the necessary arrangement towards the release of your
payment dispatching the senate in collaboration with federal ministry of finance
have already deposited One million Nine hundred thousand US dollars for the
revalidations payment.

So,you are advice to forward your full name, contact address and telephone to
our Loot programming office In Benin. To Dr.Amahuo Godfrey his telephone is +229
9300 9027 E-mail godfreyamahuo01@netscape.net to enable them automate the
information so as to give our payment bank in US the access to issue you a
casher cheque and you will cash it immediately any place you like.

Your are hereby advice to stop contact with any body in regard to any
transfer originated from Africa both your local representatives and from here
un-once adhere to our advice to get your fund paid. Accept our congratulations
in advance.

Best Regards
General.Peter Kozuku.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam