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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:
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +22998894476 (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.
  • ecowasdeliveryingcompany@yahoo.com.br

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Dr=20Philip=20Wood?= <officemailbox42@yahoo.com.co>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 20:15:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!! CONTACT ECOWAS DELIVERING COMPANY NOW FOR YOUR CHEQU


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:officemailbox42@yahoo.com.co



- VALUE ATTENTION CONGRATULATION!!!!! After a brief meeting in our office today your cheque has been parceled and arrangement has been completed with the ECOWAS DELIVERING COMPANY for immediate delivering of your cheque to you without any delay. You are hereby adviced to reconfirme your informations to the ECOWAS DELIVERING COMPANY for immediate delivering of your cheque £750.000.00 (SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTHY THOUSAND EURO).Your Tracking Number will be send to you by the Company. You are hereby adviced to stop any further communication with other Departments untill you recieve your cheque from ECOWAS DELIVERING COMPANY.The only fee you are required to send Ecowas Delivering Company is There KEEPING FEE AND OFFICIAL STAMP FEE which total is £95. The Ecowas company will Direct you on how to send them this fee! The needed informations is as detailed below :- NAME,ADDRESS,EMAIL,PHONE,OCCUPATION,COUNTRY. THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF ECOWAS DELIVERING COMPANY Director General / Mr Henry Edward Email/ ( ecowasdeliveryingcompany@yahoo.com.br ) Phone Number/ +22998894476 Country/Cotonou Benin Republic Best Regards Dr Philip Wood

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam