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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• 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.
  • +22997598772 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Andrien Dossou <andrien.dossou@globols.net>
Reply-To: andrien.dossou@yahoo.it
Date: Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:05:48 +0000
Subject: Treat as Urgent and Confidential

Dear Friend,

I know you might be skeptical receiving this email (as we have not known each other). There is however no reason to be apprehensive as all I request is for your co-operation to have the sum of US$15,500,000.00 transferred out of my bank (African Development Bank, Benin).

Everything regarding the transaction is already perfected, so (if you are interested) you should please email me with the following information:

1. Full Names
2. Address (physical)
3. Telephone numbers and fax (if applicable) So that we can reach an agreement and kick-start the transaction.

Should it be that you are not interested in this, please just disregard my email and never let anyone know about it.
You may call me after replying to enable me see your message immediately.

Yours sincerely,
Andrien Dossou

Telephone +229 97598772