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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:

• 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:
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (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 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.
  • +22993773583 (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.
  • infor_abankplc1_123@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: john1 kelly <john1kelly@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <infor_abankplc1_123@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2007 21:15:15 +0100
Subject: URGENTLY REPLY OK



Dearest friend,Greetings to you & your Family.I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmation Bank Draft of $850.000.00 United States Dollars that my boss left on your name, but I did not hear from you since that time.Then i went to deposited the bank draft with registered bank here in Benin Rep being that courier company can not longer afford to deliver the check to you, with the help of the my boss lawyer, he advice the apex bank plc cotonou benin republic to make the payment to you with their new ATM MASTER CARD And the needed arrangement has made already with apex bank regards the transaction and i have deposited your fund with Apex Bank Plc here in Benin Republic, because I travelled to Argentina for some project i have at hand and will not come back till next 3month end. I have arranged with them to make your payment to you with their new ATM MASTER CARD which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE around the world. However, Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your ATM CARD. REV DR.MATHEW EZE DIRECTOR, ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT APEX BANKFAX:+229-93773583EMAIL:(infor_abankplc1_123@yahoo.fr ) I have paid for the processing charges,delivery charges and Clearance Certificate charges Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money nor to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country, The only Money that your are going to pay to them is only $85 USD which they will use to obtain the Affidevit Of Onwership from the Federal High Court Of Cotonou Benin Republic. Then,I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivering and also try to contact them as soon as possible today to quicken the processing of your card. Let me know as soon as you receive your card.Thanks and May God Bless You With Your Family, DIRECTOR JOHN KELLY.NOTE FOR YOUR IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION TODAY
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam