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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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • +22997846889 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Solomon Dossa" <get_007@msn.com>
Reply-To: <projects_001@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 16:43:24 +0000
Subject: From Dr. Solomon Dossa



Good Day, Please accept my sincere apologizes if my email does not meet your business or personal ethics. In other to transfer to overseas ($48,500.000.00 US) forty Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) from Enterprise National Bank of Benin, Cotonou, Benin Republic. I have the courage to ask for your assistance to handle this important and confidential business to provide either an existing bank account or to set up a new bank a/c immediately to receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve to receive this funds quitely. I am Dr. Solomon Dossa, I know that this will come to you as a surprise as we have never meet before, but I decided to reach you directly to solicit your assistance and guidelines in making a business investment and transfer of ($48.5MUSD) to your country. I presently work as a senior Accounts Director, Offshore Mortgage & Services with Enterprise National Bank of Benin, Cotonou, Benin Republic. Furthermore, at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this profitable Business investment until I get your response by mail. Please take out a moment of your very busy Schedule today to respond back if you are interested. please call me on my direct telephone number for an initial confidential communication and also for the details of this transaction. I wish for utmost confidentiality in handling this transaction. Awaiting your reply, Dr. Solomon Dossa. Tel +229-97 84 68 89

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam