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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:

• 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:
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • bank_africaplc7@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: kam nna <kam_nna@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <bank_africaplc7@yahoo.it>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 05:10:51 +0100
Subject: BANK OF AFRICA PLC COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC



ATTN: SIR/ MADAM, THE MANAGEMENT OF BANK OFAFRICA PLC REPUBLIC OF BENIN, WISHES TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR DRAFT CHEQUE ISSUED IN YOUR FAVOUR IN TUNE OF $800,000.00 USD ONLY,FROM YOUR AGENT AND HE TOLD US TO CANCELLED THE CHEQUE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE IT. SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY AND TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON BEFORE WE PROCEED ,YOU CAN CONTACT OUR DIRECTOR MRS SANDRA IBEH ON THIS WEBADDRESS: (bank_africaplc7@yahoo.it) BEFORE WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL . THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION. YOURS FAITHFULLY, MR DAN JACOB. SERETARY FOREIGN OPERATION DEPARTMENT, BANK OF AFRICA PLC COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam