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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "million 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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • +22997842845 (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.
  • ecobankplc_benin@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • ecobank_plc1@ubbi.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • emailecobank_plc1@ubbi.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Jeff Akum" <infojeffa8@biz.by>
Reply-To: ecobankplc_benin@sify.com
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:08:30 -0700
Subject: Attention,


*Attention,

I deemed it necessary and urgent to notify you finally about the outstanding
settlement of your compensation winning fund that was given by United Nation
to you. This compensation winning made for all the people that have
transaction with Africans that lost their money along the line and after
business failed, now the victims are given a lot of complains and report to
the United Nation. Now UN decided to give each of every one of you the sum
of $1,000.000.00 USD to pay all your debts and start a new business and
forget about the African transaction. That was the mean reason Kofi Anna;
the formal secretary-general of the United Nation organized this West
African Monitoring institution, just to regain the image of dear nation. We
West African Monitoring institution has taken upon our selves to settle
these very bills, because of the dubious attitude of the apex institution in
Africa who have made things difficult to their dear client.

On the detailed verification and reconciliation of your file, it was crystal
to us that you are the rightful beneficiary to the said fund which has been
delayed due to lack of information about the position of this Fund that was
made on your behalf for so long up till date.

However after our due checking of your file and it was satisfactory approved
for payment that is why we contacted you for urgent release of your
compensation winning fund? You have to disengage from any body or
impersonated officers who claim to be in position of your fund, thereby
misleading and having the opportunity to extort money from you. Because of
this outstanding problem, the president committee on contractual matters has
decided to pay this fund to you through our paying bank here in Benin
Republic : ECO BANK, and also they can pay you via USA Bank of America or
through our affiliate banks in Europe .

We have concluded all the necessary arrangement towards the release of your
payment dispatching the senate in collaboration with federal ministry of
finance has already deposited $ 1,000.000.00 (One million DOLLARS) for the
revalidations payment. So, you are advice to forward you're full name,
contact address and direct telephone to our paying bank office In Benin as
it is stated below. NAME OF THE ECO BANK OF BENIN
*

*EMAIL; ** ecobankplc_benin@sify.com <ecobank_plc1@ubbi.com>
* <Emailecobank_plc1@ubbi.com>*phone; +22997842845*
*NAME Yaya Hamed*


*Contact the above information to enable them automates the information so
as to give you urgent attention for the release of your compensation winning
fund. You are hereby advice to stop contact with any body in regard to any
transfer originated from Africa both your local representatives and so here
on-now and adhere to our advice to get your fund paid.

Accept our congratulations in advance.

Dr Jeff Akum*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam