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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.

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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +22997464521 (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.
  • mrgilbert.bongo@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Gilbert Bongo" <beninbourse200@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: mrgilbert.bongo@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:31:41 +0100
Subject: Please Read/Reply Now.


Please Read.



My name is Mr. Gilbert Bongo, I am the credit officer in First National
Bank, Benin Republic. I have a business proposal in the tune of $49m to be
transferred to an offshore account with your assistance.



On the 2nd of January 2005, I received a call that one of my customer died
in the Tsunami Disaster with his wife and only child on vacation at Phuket
Island in Thailand.



Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my customer
extended relatives and until date have not succeeded. I am contacting you to
assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my client before it gets
confiscated by our bank or declared unserviceable by our bank where this
deposit is lodged.



After the successful transfer, we shall share in ratio of 30% for you and
60% for me. While 10% should be given to charity organization here in
Africa. If you are really interested, please respond to my letter
immediately, so we can commence all arrangements and I will give you more
information on the project and how we would handle it. Please treat this
business with utmost confidentiality.



We shall start the first transfer with (Nine Million United States Dollars
only), upon the successful actualization of the first transfer without any
disappointment from your side, we shall re-apply for the release of the
remaining payment to your account. I have the original copy of the deceased
Last Statement of Account, which will be used to substantiate our
inheritance claims.



All I require is your consent and honest co-operation to enable us see the
deal through.



You can contact me on my private email: (mrgilbert.bongo@gmail.com) and send
me the following information for documentation purpose:



(1)Full names:

(2) Private phone number:

(3) Current residential address:

(4)Occupation:



I look forward to hearing from you.



Kind Regards,



Mr. Gilbert Bongo.

Direct Phone No: +22997464521

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam