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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:

• 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:
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "west africa fund monitoring unit" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • +22998157869 (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.
  • josephstabaku@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:43:25 +0100
Subject: Your Payment have finally been approved.






This is to officially inform you that your transfer which=C2=A0 have=C2=A0=
been delayed=C2=A0 have finally been approved=C2=A0 for transfer by the =
West Africa Fund Monitoring Unit after strict verification of your file.

Your fund will be transferred=C2=A0 to you via ATM card which is cashable=
in any ATM machine or Bank anywhere in the world.

We hereby officially inform you that the ATM card number: 3774 2856 7847 =
9006 worth US$500,000.00 ($FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS) has been cr=
edited in your favor as the first part payment of your fund which have be=
en delayed by some Bank officers who claim to be in position of your fund=
, in their effort=C2=A0 to extort money from you.

In the light of the above, Your personal identification is ATM- 7997.

Contact the verification officer Rev. Joseph Tabaku=C2=A0 on:

Rev. Joseph Tabaku
TEL:=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 +229-98-15-78-69
E-MAIL:=C2=A0=C2=A0 josephstabaku@gmail.com

Send him the following informations of yours:

Full Names................
Delivery Address.........
Country..................
Occupation...............
Phone Number.............
Fax Number...............
Age......................
sex......................


Yours Sincerely
Ms. Jane Mcfadden
(SECRETARY)
WEST AFRICA FUND MONITORING UNIT.

=C2=A0

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam