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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
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "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. )
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• 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.
  • +22993913325 (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.
  • ecoatm20010@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: jim peter<jimpeters1@freenet.de>
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:14:07 +0200
Subject: CONTACT ECO BANK ATM MASTER CARD DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR PAYMENT OF $850.000.00 USD IMMEDIATELY PRESENT CODE (ATM-Y2K7).





ATTENTION

THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE
VERIFIEDYOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT THAT WHY YOU HAVE
NOT RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVENOT FUFILLED THE
OBLIGATIONS GIVEN TO YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE
PAYMENT.

WE HAVE DECIDED TO BRING A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM. RIGHT
NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH OUR SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER
ASIA PACIFIC, THAT IS THE LATEST INSTRUCTION FROM FEDERAL MINISTER OF
FINANCE (F.M.F) FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN .AND EFCCBENINREPUBLIC.AS WELL
THE INTERPOL AND FBI.

THIS CARD CENTER WILL SEND TO YOU AN ATM CARD
WHICH YOU WILL USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART
OF THE WORLD, BUT THE MAXIMUM IS TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY, SO IF
YOU LIKE TO RECIEVE YOUR FUND THIS WAY PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CONTACTING
THE CARD PAYMENT CENTER AND ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

1.
YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO
SEND THE ATM CARD TO
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. ATTACH COPY
OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION
DR. RICHARD CHIMA
DIRECTOR, ATM PAYMENT
DEPARTMENT
DIRECT PHONE:+229 939 133 25
EMAIL;ecoatm20010@yahoo.fr

I
have paid for the processing charges,delivery charges and Clearance
Certificate charges Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money nor to
sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country, The only Money that your are
going to pay to them is only $155 USD which they will use to obtain the
Affidevit Of Ownership from the Federal High Court Of Cotonou Benin
Republic and the release of pin code too and also will be use to mail
the atm master card to you via dhl company ltd.
ALSO FOR YOUR
INFORMATION, YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMINUCATION WITH ANY OTHER
PERSON(S) OR
OFFICE(s) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT.


EMAIL ME BACK AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FURTHER
DIRECTION AND ALSO UPDATE ME ON ANY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED
OFFICE.NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU OUR CODE OF
CONDUCT, WHICH IS (ATM-Y2K7) SO YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN
CONTACTING THE CARD CENTER BY
USING IT AS YOUR SUBJECT.

YOURS
FAITHFULLY.
SECRETARY Jim Peter





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam