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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.

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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)
  • "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.
  • +22993852220 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR PAUL KUKU" <mrpaul_kuku@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: kukupaka@msn.com
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 18:56:24 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend ,


Dear Friend ,

Greetings.

I am Mr Paul Kuku, the director in charge of auditing and accounting section
of Lloyds Tsb Bank Plc Benin,Cotonou,Republic of Benin, West Africa, and
also a special account officer of Mr. Peter Lund,a European.He was a
seasoned contractor with Benin Cement Company,Cotonou, who unfortunately
died in a plane crash of Union Transport Africaines Flight Boeing 727 in
Cotonou, Republic of Benin on 25th December, 2003.

I'm contacting you to assist in remittance of a dormant fund as the next of
kin left behind by Mr. Lund so as not to allow the bank confiscate or
declare the funds unserviceable according to Benin Republic financial law on
unclaimed bills which the government usually map out for the purchase of
ammunitions which are the major course of connflicts in the west of Africa.

Consequently, I'm seeking your consent to present you as the next-of-kin of
the deceased so that the outstanding fixed depo sit (US$22.1M) will be
remitted into any designated account of yours to be shared by both of us in
the ratio of 60% to me and 40% for you.

You may also reach me at my private mailbox and call me for further
information on +2299385 2220, paulkuku@msn.com

Sincerely yours,
Mr Paul Kuku

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam