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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:
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • lukemanduke1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lukeman duke" <lm_duke2@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:51:25 +0200
Subject: SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$15.500 MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT


DEAR Sir,

SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$15.500 MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

MY NAME IS MR LUKEMAN DUKE. I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK BENIN LTD IN THE EASTERN REGION OF BENIN REPUBLIC. I GOT
YOUR INFORMATION FROM A FRIEND WHO IS A MEMBER OF OUR TRADE MISSION. I WRITE
YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH. I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO LOVELY
KIDS.

I AM A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND PEACE. I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION
THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I. IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND ANY FINANCIAL REPORT TO
MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL CITY COTONOU AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR.
IN THE COURSE OF THE; LAST YEAR BUSINESS REPORT. I DISCOVERED THAT MY REGION
IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE FIFTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATE DOLLARS ($15, 500.000.00) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT AWARE OF AND
WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF.

I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT WE CALL ESCROW / SUNDRY ACCOUNT WITH NO
BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CAN NOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO
THIS MONEY. SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY
IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 25% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION.

THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED. IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER;
ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND
WHO MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE
TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT.

IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. REPLY ME
THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL BELOW IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE
CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS. CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AND ONLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL
ADDRESS(lukemanduke1@gmail.com)

THANKS IN ADVANCE AND REMAIN BLESSED TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY.

YOURS TRULY
MR, LUKEMAN DUKE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam