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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:
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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:
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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 orphan 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.
  • +22993698913 (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.
  • j05cool@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR JOE COOL" <j_cool@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: j05cool@hotmail.fr
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:17:18 +0200
Subject: Hello Dear


Hello Dear

Let this message not be as a surprise to you, I am only seeking for a
helping
hand from you. I lost my father years back.He died during the political
crisis in my country.

My late father was one of the directors under Tijan Kabbah's government. I
am
presently in Cotonou Benin.It is my desire to write from my heart hoping
that
you will not betray me.

My father made some huge amount of money worth $ 12,000,000,00 millions us
dollars which was canclled in a trunk box and was deposited in a private
security company here in Cotonou Benin in favor of me when he was alive,in
fact in a brief introduction All the information will be given to you when i

hear from you.

Now i am seeking for a trusted person who will stand as my late father's
foreign business partner to secure the box and transfer to his/her country
for onward investment.

I have decided to give you 35% of the total sum for your kind assistance. It

is inheritance and last hope of me here Show your interest and we proceed on

the next step.

For privacy Reply me in this mail : j05cool@hotmail.fr

Thanks and God bless you and your entir family

Joe Cool
Telephone 00229-93698913
E-mail: j05cool@hotmail.fr

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam