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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22997344001 (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.
  • atmpaymentcenter_benin07@yahoo.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "george ikem" <georgeikem5@gala.net>
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 10:17:46 +0200
Subject: GOOD DAY


GOOD DAY
THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED YOUR
INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT THAT WHY YOU HAVE NO RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT IS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT

FULFILLED THE OBLIGATIONS GIVEN TO YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR INHERITANCE
PAYMENT.

SECONDLY WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE NONE
OFFICIALS IN THE BANK

YOUR ENTIRE ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE FUND TO YOU. WE WISH TO
ADVISE YOU THAT SUCH AN

ILLEGAL ACT LIKE THESE HAVE TO STOP IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT
SINCE WE HAVE DECIDED TO
BRING A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH OUR SWIFT CARD PAYMENT
CENTER ASIA PACIFIC THAT

IS THE LATEST INSTRUCTION FROM MR. PRESIDENT. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
BENIN.THIS CARD CENTER WILL

SEND YOU AN ATM CARD WORTH YOUR INHERITED FUND OF $1.5,Million usd WHICH YOU
WILL USE TO WITHDRAW

YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, BUT THE MAXIMUM IS
TWENTY THOUSAND

DOLLARS PER DAY, SO IF YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND THIS WAY PLEASE LET US
KNOW BY CONTACTING

THE PAYMASTER GENERAL CARD PAYMENT CENTER ;

Rev Dr Robert Williams
ON HIS EMAIL ADDRESS;;;;;;;; atmpaymentcenter_benin07@yahoo.com.br
Direct Open Tel/+229-973-440-01
AND ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. PLEASE THE ONLY MONEY YOU WILL PAY IS DELIVERY FEE TO THE ATM CARD
PAYMENT CENTER HAS BEEN

MANDATED TO ISSUE OUT USD1.5,Million AS PART PAYMENT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR
2008. ALSO FOR YOUR

INFORMATION,YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OTHER
PERSON(S) OR OFFICE(S) TO

AVOID ANY WHITCHES IN RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT. FOR ORAL DISCUSSION, CALL AND
EMAIL ME BACK AS SOON

AS YOU RECEIVE THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FURTHER DIRECTION AND ALSO UPDATE
ME ON ANY DEVELOPMENT

FROM THE ABOVE-MENTIONED OFFICE.

NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU OUR CODE OF
CONDUCT,WHICH IS (ATM-822) SO

YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING
THE CARD CENTER BY USING IT AS YOUR SUBJECT.
REGARDS,
GEORGE IKEM

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam