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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:

• 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:
  • "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
  • "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.
  • +22993105098 (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.
  • accountantcharles@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "rice 00922" <frankantonio3@me.by>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 16:01:43 +0200
Subject: URGENT CONTACT NEEDED


*Auditing and Account manager
Financial Bank Benin
BP 2702, Cotonou, , Benin
Primary SIC: National Commercial Banks, Primary NAICS: Commercial Banking
Description: Finance: Banking
Tel:+229 93 10 50 98
E_mail: **accountantcharles@gmail.com* <accountantcharles@gmail.com>
*
Dear trusted freind,

I am a staff of Financial Bank Benin . I am writing following an opportunity
in my office that will be of benefit to both of us. In my department i
discovered an abandoned sum of $10.5 million,(Ten Million five hundred
thousand Us Dollars)in an account that belongs to one of our foreign
customers Late Mr.Hall Harris

An American who unfortunately lost his life in the Tsunami disaster in
Thailand 2004.,including his wife and Two of his daughters. Since we got
information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin or
relatives to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it
unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as
indicated in our banking laws and guild lines.

Unfortunately I learned that his supposed next of kin being his two
daughters died along with him in the Tsunami disaster leaving nobody with
the knowledge of this fund behind for the claim.It is therefore upon this
discovery that I now decided to make the deal with you and transfer this
money to you as the next of kin or beneficiary of the funds for safety
keeping and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and we
don't want this money to go back into Bank treasury as unclaimed bill.

The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that such money remained
after five years the money will be transferred into banking treasury as
unclaimed funds.We agreed that 47.5% of this money will be for you as
foreign partner,5% will be use to upset expenses that might in cure on the
course of making this transaction a successful one, while 47.5% will be for
me.

Please note that all necessary arrangement for the smooth release of these
funds to you has been finalized.I will discuss more in details when I do
receive your response.You can reach me in my private email:

Best regards,
Engr Frank Athonio
Tel:+229 93 10 50 98
**accountantcharles@gmail.com* <accountantcharles@gmail.com>
* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam