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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "processing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  • +22997482703 (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.
  • oceanicbankplc244@mail.md

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN HILLMAN" <johnhillman27@ig.com.br>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:28:59 +0200
Subject: Contact Oceanic Bnak Now


Good day to you Dear Beneficiary,


This is to inform you that after the Meeting which was held by the
ECOWAS,which is Economic Communitee of West Africa State,That your Name was
found from the list of those who where Scammed by the Internet Money
Laundering which are using our Government's Name and Other African countries
to take people's money out.



Now the federal government of these Country has arranged your Inherritance
fund which is also your compersation of $5.8 Million U.S.A DOLLARS with the
Oceanic Bank Benin Republic Plc.



The Oceanic Bank Manager Benin Republic Hon.Mr Tony Hubert has emailed us
two times that some of the beneficiary has already have their fund
transfered and it remains only 2 beneficiary including you so i want you to
try as much as you can to contact the Oceanic Bank Immediately to enable
them tranfer your inherited fund to your account.



Be inform that you are require to send $487.00 to them, this money is to
enable them process the wire transfer to your account we would have
deducted the money from the total amount but the diractor of oceanic bank
PLC. refurse he stated that since you are not here that no one has any
right to take money out of the fund until it is transfered into the
Beneficiary's Bank Account which is you.



So be awere that they will ask for $487.00 to enable them process the wire
transfer to your account according to them the wire transfer will take them
48 hours to transfer the fund to your account so all you have to do now is
to contact them immediately with your full account information to enable
them transfer the money to your account with out any forther delay.



Please make sure the information you send to them is corract to avoid rong
transfer and remember that they will ask for processing fee of $487.00
please make sure you send the money to them to enable them process the wire
transfer to your account.



Below is the Information that the Oceanic Bank needed from you.

Your country.........
Full Name..........
Name of your Bank......
Account Number..........
Swift Code if Possible.........
Routing Number...........
Bank Address...........
Your Mobile Phone Number....
Home Number..
Office Number..........


ADDRESS...NO 24 CRESENT HOSPITAL EXPRES WAY COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
OCEANIC BANK MANAGER..HON.MR TONY HUBERT
PHONE NUMBER......+229-9748-27-03
Email : oceanicbankplc244@mail.md


Please try to contact the Oceanic Bank as you are ebb directed .

Yours Sincerely
Mr John Hillman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam