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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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)
  • "dormant 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 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.
  • +2282075063 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:44:12 +0100
Subject: From Mr Victor Benard.


Dear Friend,

I got your address via the internet.I have a proposal for you -this however
is not mandotary nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your
will.I am 52, and work with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the
West Coast).Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past 8 years
who is now late.

When we discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from this
account for this long period, I and my two other colleagues decided to carry
out a system investigation and discovered that none of the family member nor
relations of the late American is aware of this account.This is the story in
a nutshell.

Now we want an account overseas where we can transfer this
funds.Thereafter,we had planned to destroy all related documents for this
account. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months we have
worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation.

The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated
interest the balance in this account stands at-(15 .5 million US
dollars).Now our questions are:- 1. Can you handle this project? 2. Can we
give you this trust? 3. What will be your commission if you can sponsor this
project? Consider this and get back at us as soon as possible.

Finally, it is our humble prayer that the information as contained herein be
accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it
deserves.We Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project.I
will urge you to get back to me for quick action.

Respectfully yours,

Mr Victor Benard.
+228-2075063

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam