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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
  (+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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: BANK OF AFRICA(BOA) <service@za.pl>
Reply-To: intlremit_govoff@bibe-bbj.info
Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 15:57:45 +0200
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT CONTRACT


IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT CONTRACT FROM THE DESK OF:
Professor Charles C. Duncan
Executive Governor,
Bank Of Africa (BOA),
International Remittance Department,
Corporate Headquarters: # BOA House, cotonou,
ATTN: Honourable Contractor,
RE: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT CONTRACT #: AV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009
This is in Acknowledgement of Your Immediate Contract /inheritance
Payment: Contract Number #AV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.
On behalf of the entire Staffs of the Bank of Africa and the Federal
Government of Benin Republic in collaboration with the Authorities,
who are in charge of Foreign Contract /inheritance Payments, we
Apologies, for the delay of your Contract /inheritance Payment and all
the Inconveniences and Inflict that we might have indulge you through.
However, we were having some minor problems with our Payment System,
which have demoralized us and caused a lot of predicament to us that
are Inexplicable, which have also held us stranded and Indolent, not
having the
Perseverance and Aspiration to devote our 100% Assiduity in
Accrediting Foreign Contract Payments. We apologize once again for all
the inconveniences.
From the Records of outstanding Contractors/inheritance due for
payment with the Federal Government of Benin, your Name and Company
was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding Contractors who
have not yet received their payments.
I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square hole,
and can be voguish for that your payment is being processed and will
be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note
that from the record in my File, your outstanding Contract/inheritance
Payment is US$18,000,000.00 Million United States Dollars.
Kindly re-confirm to me the followings:
1) Your Full Name.
2) Phone, Fax and Mobile #.
3) Company Name, Position and Address.
4) Profession, Age and Marital Status.
5) Working Identity Card/Int'l Passport.
As soon as this information is received, your payment
will be made
to you in a Certified Bank Draft or Wired to your Nominated Bank
Account directly from Central Bank of west Africa.
RECONFERM YOUR MAIL AT OUR EMAIL ADDRESS
BELLOW
You must email us on direct email address at (
intlremit_govoff@bibe-bbj.info [1]) as soon as you receive this
letter for further discussion.
Yours Faithfully,
Professor Charles C. Duncan
Executive Governor,
Bank Of Africa (BOA),
NB: Strictly forward all future e-mail correspondence to (
intlremit_govoff@bibe-bbj.info [1]) for proper attention and quick
response to your payment, as it's ought to be attended to avoid delay.


Links:
------
[1] mailto:intlremit_govoff@bibe-bbj.info

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam