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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "mobilization 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. )
  • "necessary legal documents" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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.
  • +22993003728 (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.
  • chrisbrownoffice2@ig.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: christa brown <christa.brown16@msn.com>
Reply-To: <chrisbrownoffice2@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:10:19 +0000
Subject: ASSETS OF MY LATE CLIENT



BARRISTER CRISTIAN BROWNPLOT 815, RUE 11, COTONOU , BENIN REPUBLIC,TELEPHONE: +229-93003728EMAIL: chrisbrownoffice2@ig.com.br ASSETS OF MY LATE CLIENT I am Barrister Cristian Brown (esq.) a Solicitor and Personal lawyer to the above name client of mine, a national of your country who has a servicing firm affiliated with the Electric Authority here in Benin Republic .He was awarded a contract worth Twenty Three Million United States Dollars US$23,000,000.00). Immediately this contract was signed, an initial amount of Nine Million, Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars US$9.600, 000.00) was paid to him as mobilization fee to kick off the contract. He duly completed this contract pending when his remaining balance of (US$13,400,000.00) will be paid to him. On the 21st April 2004, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a ghastly motor accident along B adagry Express Road . Unfortunately, all the occupants in the vehicle lost their lives. My client was a successful and an accomplished family man, who made enough fortune before his untimely death. Since then I had made several inquiries through your Embassy to locate any of my clients extended relative but this exercise has proved unsuccessful after several unsuccessful attempts.Not too long after his untimely death, his outstanding balance of US$13,400,000.00 was approved. Right now the funds are still floating unclaimed in the suspense account of the offshore correspondence payment centre in Europe . I decided to trace his relatives through the Internet, to locate any member of his family not much progress was recorded. Coincidentally, I came across your name and to my surprise; you bear a similar surname with my client. By virtue of my closeness to the deceased and his immediate family, I am very much aware of my client related documen ts on which the contract was awarded and executed. I have reasoned very professionally and I feel it will be legally proper to present you as the next of kin of my deceased client, so that you can be paid the remaining balance of his contract funds left in the bank, hence I contacted you. I am offering you this opportunity by contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where these huge Deposits were lodged. The National Electric Authority issued me a notice as the Attorney to the Deceased to provide the Next of Kin or have the Account confiscated within the Next Ten official working days since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 1 year that I have been searching, I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin or family member to the Deceased since you are at an advantage, from the same country, so that the proceeds of this remaining balance of his contract funds valued at $13.4 Million Dollars can be paid to you. We shall both share the funds; we will agreed on the sharing ratio as we proceed, A certain amount will be for any incurred expenses and for donation to charitable organizations. I have all the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this claim through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Please get in touch with me by email (chrisbrownoffice2@ig.com.br) or phone (+229-93003728) to enable us discuss further. Respectfully Yours,Barrister Chris Brown (ESQ)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam