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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.
  • +22997857379 (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.
  • c.b.w.africa@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "files office" <files1996@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 18:21:20 +0100
Subject: Attention Fund Beneficiary


Attention Fund Beneficiary

We are very sorry for what happened. Since last year, now listen the reason
why this money is coming to you is that the government of this country has
found that your name was among the list of the scammed victims. We finally
find out your contacts the clients who scammed you was arrested and jailed
So since yesterday after we did not hear from you or receive your mail we
have made arrangement with Central Bank Of West Africa on how to transfer
your money into your Bank Account at your country and note that your money
which bank going to transfer is One Million USA dollars and you have to do
right now is to contact the bank immediately so that the manager will
transfer your money into your bank account. Be notified that we have paid
the bank for the opening of new account fee for you. Now listen the money
that remains which you can pay to him is wire transfer fee which is only
180.00 to transfer your money directly into your bank account at your
country ok.Try to contact bank through this. Bank

Name. Central Bank Of West Africa Oceanic Bank Plc
Contact Persons: Prof.William Chetas
Tel: +22997857379
Customer's relations officer...Ms.Lilly Frank
BANK ADDRESS. À Cotonou (Agence Centrale, Akpakpa, Ganhi, Saint-Michel,
Zongo) Parakou ET Porto-Novo.
+22997857379 Fax +229968457
Director Remittance Department
Email: c.b.w.africa@gmail.com

Please make sure that you follow bank manager's instruction and forward all
your bank account detail where to transfer your money into and your current
telephone number.
This is information the Bank Manager need from you.

YOUR COUNTRY............
YOUR FULL NAME........
YOU'RE ACCOUNT NUMBER..............
NAME OF YOUR BANK................
OCCUPATION...........
HOME ADDRESS.....
MOBIL PHONE NUMBER.....
OFFICE NUMBER.........
HOME NUMBER............
AGE....
SEX....

Finally call the attention of the bank after you send them your contact
informations. +22997857379 or +22993905158 for direct conversation with the
Bank Manager.

May God Be With You.
Federal Ministry of Finanace
Benin Republic
Rev.Dr.Chris Chetas

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam