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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN AKUMA" <j_akuma1@ig.com.br>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 08:40:12 +0100
Subject: Good News.


Dear Friend,

How are you today? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition.I am
using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished
transaction.I am the Barrister who contacted you long ago,for an Inheritance
claims,regards to my Late client, who made a huge deposit with one of the
Local Bank here in Benin Republic.

Due to logistic reasons and your inconsistance to the other best known to
you.
However I wish to inform you that I have successfully transfrred the said
fund through another partner who was capable of assisting me in this great
venture that have been over and successfull.Presently i am in United Emirate
for an Investment project.
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at
the
course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you with the sum of $2.5 Million (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS)United State Of America Dollars.

Therefore you should contact the Foreign Operation Department with the First
Commercial Bank of Benin, with the following information stated below, in
order to receive the Total sum of $2.5 Million which i made for your
Compensation.However you should feel free to contact the First Commercial
Bank Management, as i have already passed instruction to them, therefore
they will attend to you without delay.

ATTN: Mr. Johnson Uwem, Foreign Operation Department.
First Commercial Bank of Benin
E-mail: firstcommercialbk@live.fr
Regards,

JOHN AKUMA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam