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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:
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  • +22997731892 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "philip fadaya" <dchukwu2@beehive.org>
Reply-To: dchukwu2008@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:23:39 +0200
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS MATTER


MR.DAVID CHUKWU
DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN AUDITOR
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK
BENIN-COTONOU
PHONE NO +229 9773 1892

Attention: Friend,

My name is Mr David Chukwu ,an external auditor for the Africa Development
Bank,Benin-Cotonou,working as part of a bigger team that covers the entire
west Africa region.

An investor (name with-held) died without naming a next of kin to his fund
in my bank.The amount is $15.5M including 3.500g alluvial Gold Dust and
banking regulation/legislation in Lome-Togo demanded that i notify the
fiscal authorities after three years.The above set of facts underscores my
reason to seek your permission to have you stand as the next of kin to the
deceased investor.This funds will be approve and release in your favour as
the next of kin if only you will adhere to my instruction and cooperate with
me in one accord.

I have all the legal and Banking details of my deceased client that will
facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds
and ultimately transfer of the $15.5M and the 3.500g alluvial Gold Dust plus
interest to any bank account nominated by you.I am prepared to compensate
you with a 25% share of the total funds for your efforts and other 5% will
be mapped out to offset any expences during the transfering.The final
details will be given upon receipt an affirmation of your desire to
participate.

Please contact me immediately whether or not you are interested in this
deal.If you are not,it will enable me scout for another foreign partner to
carry out this deal.But where you are interested, contact me only through my
email private address below for more details as time is of the essence in
this business.

Thank you,

MR.DAVID CHUKWU
DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN AUDITOR
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK
BENIN-COTONOU
PHONE NO +229 9773 1892

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam