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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.

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:
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +22997846786 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22993111459 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "dean pastor" <pastordean@nsk.biz>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 21:23:12 +0100
Subject: CONTACT PASTOR DEAN MARTH FORM YOUR MASTER CARD


CONTACT PASTOR DEAN MARTH FORM YOUR MASTER CARD
**
*ATM PAYMENT UNIT
056 WC, De Sentarita 0691 BP,
Kousse, Cotonou , RB.,
PHONE.+229 97 84 67 86*
*FAX : +229 93111459
* **
**
* Notification of payment by ATM Prepaid Master Credit Card


ATTENTION; Pastor Williams,

We write to acknowledge the receipt of your email regarding your outstanding
Payment, as directed by International payment committee . This is to
officially informed that your payment has been approved and your ATM CARD
will be dispatch to you after due process. In appreciation of your patience
and understanding, the Payment Committee have decided to pay you the sum
of One Million Two hundred and fifty thousand united state dollars
($1,250,000.00) on Prepaid Master Card as a result of fraudulent bank draft
/ cheques in circulation. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your
payment information confidential till your ATM PIN CODE is activated and you
start making withdrawal. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid
double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. So please be warned.

TRANSACTION DYNAMICS.

Your MASTER CARD offers you a variety of benefit which includes a 0%
interest for your withdrawals and balance transfers for the first 6 months
and 13% APR annually. This also affords you all online and balance transfers
available. Please Understand that you are only allowed to make withdrawal
from the the Atm Card at a Maximum of $5,000 per day on cash withdraw and
online transfer of $20,000 Daily until the ($1,250,000.00) reaches it limit.
This services is to Arrange Your Payment Through Our ATM Swift Card Payment
Center .Which Will Originate from Our affiliated ATM company MASTER CARD)(
Under Reserve Bank Operation Act 2008 ) .

Beneficiaries are mandated to pay for the delivery charges of $250 via
western union in order to enable us effect the delivery . These charges
cannot be deducted from your ATM CARD hence it's yet to be activated . This
is in accordance with section 23(1)(n) of the National code Act as adopted
in 1993 and amended on 3rd July 1996 by the payment constitutional assembly.
This is to protect beneficiaries and to avoid misappropriation of funds .

As soon as that is done your ATM Payment Card will be dispatched as soon as
possible and you will receive it within the next 72hrs the payment is
confirmed. Find attach to this important message the scan copy of your ATM
MASTER CARD for your perusal. Kindly notify us on when to clear this
charges so that we can proceed accordingly . We Await Your Urgent Response.
Email pastordeanmarth@live.fr


Regards,
Mr. DEAN MARTH ,Zonal Coordinator

CC: ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUNDS
CC:WORLD BANK GOVERNOR
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL LONDON

[image: Products & Services]
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam