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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22997563053 (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.
  • info_africadevelopment@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK" <info-adb1@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: info-adb0@mailbox.hu
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 19:07:20 +0800
Subject: RE-COMFIRMED THIS WOMAN IF IS TRUE


FROM THE DESK OF:
DR. JOHNATHAN BROUGHS.
DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE /
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT,
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) COTONOU BENIN.
BENIN REPUBILI


ATTN: BENEFICIARY

YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS OF $12.5M

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZZETED
TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU BY
THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER.

MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO
BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.HERE ARE HER INFORMATIONS:

NAME JANET WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK, YORK.
BANK ADDRESS: NEW YORK, USA.
ACCOUNT Number: 6503809428.

PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS
FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME.

THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR, EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE
COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITTANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND
ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS, TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL
FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.

HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
MRS.WHITE, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS
FROM TODAY. FORWARD YOUR PAYMENT INFORMATION, YOUR FULL NAME, TELEPHONE, FAX
NUMBER, HOME OR OFFICE ADDRESS.

CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE. FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT THIS EMAIL: (
info_africadevelopment@yahoo.co.jp) OR CALL (+229-97563053)

BEST REGARDS,

DR. JOHNATHAN BROUGHS.
DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE /
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT,
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) COTONOU BENIN.
BENIN REPUBILIC

CC: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF BENIN REPUBILIC

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam