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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.

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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:
  • "a security company " (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. )
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22997916984 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: j.djogbenu@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:20:55 -0800 (PST)
Subject: To: Dr. Ruud Bank


Attn: Dr. Ruud Bank,
=A0
I am Barrister Joseph Djogbenou, private attorney to late Mr. Johannes Bank=
, a national of your country, and a gold merchant here in Republic of Benin=
West Africa. On the 23rd of November 2006, Mr. Johannes lost his life as a=
result of lung cancer, as confirmed by a medical specialist who has been t=
aking care of his illness for over Three month before his death.=20
=A0
I have contacted you so that you can assist in claiming some assets (money)=
left=A0 behind by Mr. Johannes before they get confiscated or declared unc=
laimed by the Government of=A0 Benin Republic. These huge money were lodged=
with a Security Company where Mr. Johannes had an amount valued at about U=
S$17,500.000.00 (Seventeen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Doll=
ars).=20
=A0
Now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased s=
ince you have the same surname, so that the proceeds of this amount valued =
at $17.5 million dollars can be release and deliver to you. To mark the suc=
cess of this transfer, you and I must agree to keep this transaction betwee=
n both of us. I guarantee that this noble claim will be executed through a =
legitimate arrangement and proper change of ownership.=20
=A0
Please send your mobile phone for oral communication. You can call me throu=
gh the below number after replying.=20
=A0
Regards,=A0=A0=20
Barrister Joseph Djogbenou (Avocats at law)=20
01 BP 219, Cotonou, Benin Republic=20
Tel: +229 979-169-84=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam