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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:
  • "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)

Fraud email example:

From: "Africa Development Bankk" <infooffices6@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: inf-africadevelopment@hotmail.co.jp
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 06:27:46 -0700
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: ( inf-africadevelopment@hotmail.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