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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.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
• 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.
  • +22997571766 (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.
  • frankgeorge0023@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FRANK GEORGE" <jenifermjohnson10@gmail.com>
Reply-To: frankgeorge0044@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:12:03 +0100
Subject: YOU HAVE NO MONEY TO SPEND IN THIS BUSINESS


YOU HAVE NO MONEY TO SPEND IN THIS BUSINESS

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Frank George, managing Frank Petroleum Corporation Cotonou-Benin West
Africa (FPCCB). We deal on exporting Crude Oil into AMERICA / CANADA and
EUROPE .
We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium
of getting to our costumers in the Canada/America and Europe as well as
making payments through you to us.

Please if you are interested in serving as a link between our company
and our customers in America /Canada we will be Glad.

Please contact us for more information; Subject to your satisfaction
you Will be given the opportunity to negotiate your mode of which we will
Pay for your services as our representative in Canada/America.

If you are interested and willing to be of help, Kindly acknowledge the
receipt of this mail and send your reply to ( frankgeorge0023@yahoo.com )

I want to assure you that this will be of no Cost to you and there will
be reward for the assistance you will render.
You can call me on +229-97571766

Thanks in advance

Mr. Frank George
Managing Director,
FPCCB.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam