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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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.

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:
  • "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.
  • +22993483251 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: GEM PETERS <gem_peters0111@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2006 04:26:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM MRS GEM PETERS



DEAR ONE,
MY NAME IS MRS GEM PETERS , THE MANAGER, CREDIT AND
FOREIGN BILLS OF ECOBANK,COTONOU-BENIN. I AM WRITING IN RESPECT OF A FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO PERISHED IN A PLANE FLIGHT 990 - EGYPTAIR WITH THE WHOLE PASSENGERS ABOARD.

SINCE THE DESMISAL OF THIS OUR CUSTOMER, I PERSONALLY HAS WATCHED WITH KEEN INTEREST TO SEE THE NEXT OF KIN BUT ALL HAS PROVED ABORTIVE AS NO ONE HAS COME TO CLAIM HIS FUNDS OF $26,500.000.USD, [TWENTYSIX-MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSANDUNITED STATES DOLLARS] WHICH HAS BEEN WITH MY BRANCH FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

ON THIS NOTE, I DECIDED TO SEEK FOR WHOM HIS NAME SHALL BE USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN AS NO ONE HAS COME UP TO BE THE NEXT OF KIN.AND THE BANKING ETHICS HERE DOESNOT ALLOW SUCH MONEY TO STAY MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, BECAUSE MONEY WILL BE RECALLED TO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED AFTER THIS PERIOD.

IN VIEW OF THIS I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH A TRADE JOURNAL IF YOU CAN STAND AS NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED. I WILL GIVE YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL. UPON THE RECEIPT OF YOUR RESPONSE, I WILL SEND YOU BY E-MAIL THE APPLICATION, BANK'S FAX NUMBER AND THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE.
I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THISBUSINESS IS HITCH FREE AND THAT YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR AS ALL MODALITIES FOR FUND TRANSFER CAN BE FINALIZED WITHIN FIVE BANKING DAYS, AFTER YOU APPLY TO THE BANK AS A RELATION TO THE DECEASED.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER. KINDLY SEND ME AN E-MAIL SIGNIFYING YOUR DECISION INCLUDING YOUR PRIVATE TEL/FAX NUMBERS FOR QUICK COMMUNICATION. SEND ME MAIL ON EMAIL ABOVE
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, YOU CAN STILL REACH ME WITH THIS MY NUMBER 00229-93483251.

MRS GEM PETERS,
RE:TREAT AS URGENT


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam