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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:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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.
  • +22997658748 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Gordon Roof" <gordonro9@gala.net>
Reply-To: gordonroof@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 13:36:29 +0100
Subject: My Dear Trusted Friend,


*My Dear Trusted Friend,

I am Mr Gordon Roof , Head of Files/Records Department in the African
Development Bank, Cotonou, Benin Republic in West Africa.

Going through the files and records in my department I observed an abandoned
sum of 12.500.000.00 (Twelve million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) belonging to a German business magnate and property consultant,
Late Andreas Schranner. The late Mr Schranner died in a plane crash on
Monday, 31st July, 2000 alongside his family members. The BBC website:

Refers:**http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm*<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm>

*I also observed that since his sudden death the bank has made frantic
efforts to locate his relations, but all attempts failed. To avoid the board
of directors taking advantage of the funds, my collegues and I conceived the
idea of contacting you, based on the good recommendation given to me by a
friend who works with the chamber of commerce and industries here.

We need your unflinching support and cooperation to have the funds
transferred to your nominated bank account. The money will be shared on a
ratio of 20% to you and the rest for my colleagues and I.Having done a
thorough feasibility study on how to perfect the transfer of the funds to
your bank account, your role shall be to send an
application for claim of the funds to the bank as a next of kin or business
partner to the late Andreas Schranner. I also would require The Following :

1. Contact address,
2. Telephone Number
3.Fax numbers for easy communication.
4. Copy of your Passport


Please, rest assured that the business is 100% risk free. *

*I look forward to receiving your urgent response.

Best wishes,

Mr Gordon Roof
Head of Files/Records
African Development Bank
TELEPHONE: 00229 97 65 8748*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam