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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • ecobank.ecobankbeninplc.benin@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MARTHINS FAVOUR" <marthins_favour1@ig.com.br>
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 10:50:37 +0100
Subject: Global Banking Division


Global Banking Division
Ecobank Plc Benin Rep
Rue du Gouverneur Bayol 01 PO Box:1280
http://www.ecobank.com

Dear sir/Madam,

RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WITH US$1.500,000.00

We at this bank wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough
review of your funds transfer schedule in conjunction with the World Bank's
and the International Monetary Funds assessment report, your payment file
was forwarded to us for immediate transfer of a part-payment of
US$1.500,000.00 to your designated bank account from their offshore account
with us.

The Auditor's reports forwarded to us shows that you have been going through
hard times in the past, by paying a lot of money to see to the release of
your outstanding funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.
We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any
correspondence outside this office till we transfer the funds into your bank
account since you do not have to pay any money or transfer charges to
receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds transfer
requirements.

The only thing required from you is $185 to obtain the Non-Residential
Clearance Form to enable us credit your account directly by telegraphic
transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of our
bank's telex and funds transfer documents to you and your bankers for
confirmation.

Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and confirm in
your bank account within five (5) working days from the day you obtain this
Non-Residential Clearance Form.

For further details and assistance on this Transfer Notice, kindly forward
your CONTACT ADDRESS, TELEPHONE and ACCOUNT NUMBERS directly to our customer
care centre E-mail: ecobank.ecobankbeninplc.benin@gmail.com, for
confidentiality of its contents.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Marthins Favour
Global Banking Division, Ecobank Plc, Benin.
Customer Care Email: ecobank.ecobankbeninplc.benin@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam