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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22990070659 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22921326366 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "rev.jacob2 Gazeta.pl" <rev.jacob2@gazeta.pl>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:01:37 +0200
Subject: FROM REV.JACOB OBU


INTERNATIONAL BANK DU BENIN
HEAD OFFICE 17 JERICHO 11
COTONOU REP.DU BENIN .
WEST AFRICA.
EMAIL; rev.jacobobu@ymail.com
TELE;+22990070659
FAX +22921326366


(NOTIFICATION FOR RELEASE OF $9.5M)



This letter is written to you in order to change your life from today. I am
Rev. Jacob Obu the new director, international remittance department of this
Bank. My boss Mr John M Ajekigbe, the MD/ CEO of this Bank is now on
compulsory leave and all power has been vested on me to make all
international payment. Furthermore due to allegations of corrupt practices
against other Benin Banks, the Federal Government Du Benin has appointed
this Bank to effect all foreign overdue payment. Be informed that the
Government du Benin have Approved the release of $9.5M which has been in
this Bank for many years UNCLAIMED. My boss in collaboration with the
Governor du Central Bank du Benin (CBB) have refuse to tell you the truth on
how to claim your fund.This is because they have been using the interest
accumulated from your fund every year to enrich themselves without your
knowledge.


I want to help you PULL OUT this fund to your Bank account today using the
easiest and quickest method which has not been known to you before. By this
method a Domiciliary Account will be opened for you in our Bank. A
domiciliary account is a secure account which we will open for you in our
Bank and Credit your payment of $9.5M for further credit into your
account.The essence of this Domiciliary account is to secure and protect
your payment from being diverted by fraudulent people or making payment to a
foreign account which do not belong to you.The greatest advantage is that
you can instruct us to credit your nominated account bit by bit with small
amount thereby saving yourself from the trouble of Financial Authority in
your country who monitor large transfer due to current trend of terrorism.


Another beauty of the domiciliary account is that you can retain the balance
left in your account in our Bank and can also instruct us to pay out money
to any Bank of your choice in the world, or issue you an ATM Card which you
can use in any part of the world when on a business trip. I hope you now
understand the advantages of a Domiciliary account and why you need this
account to receive your payment of $9.5M now in our Bank. You are advice to
forward as a matter of urgency your full banking coordinate, direct
telephone and Fax number and your contact address as we have started the
process of the account for you. Call me on +229-90070659 so that I will
issue you a payment release code which must be given to you personally
strictly for security reason. This code is very important and it is what you
will use to confirm your payment,


Yours faithfully
REV.JACOB OBU.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam