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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• 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.
  • isleybenet@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: MR ISLEY BENET <ibenet@katamail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:29:44 +0200
Subject: GOOD DAY


Dear Sir/madam,

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL & URGENT.

I apologized using this medium to reach you for a transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium. In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a respected and honest person to handle this project/transaction with sincerity, trust and confidentiality.

My name is Isley Benet, the First Son of Late Chief Francis Benet of the fiercest opposition (MDC) to the Government of Mr. Robert Mugabe the Military Dictator of Zimbabwe. As you well know, the MDC led by Mr.Morgan Tsvangirai has fought relentlessly against Mugabe?s Foreign /Local Policies especially his recent land redistribution policy which is responsible for my fathers death.

Before he died, he had already arranged and moved a reasonable amount of money about $15million US Dollar into one security/finance company in europe,I in conjunction with my family now seek your permission to allow us do a CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP/REASSIGNMENT OF CREDIT of stated funds from the deposit company to your name, so that the funds (US$15million) would be released to you as the BENEFICIARY (on behalf of me and my family).

Our family trustee have secretly protected the deposit, you are to assist us to lay claims of the funds with the aid of all legal documents that will be forwarded to you as time goes on. If you agree to help, we shall discuss the disbursement ratio in our next correspondence after we have been acquainted. I have decided to offer 20% of the above sum to anyone who assists us to secure this funds overseas or 20% share for possible help on investing in any reliable venture. Thanks while waiting to hear from you as soon as possible,please contact me with this email address isleybenet@netscape.net

Respectively Yours,
Isley Benet
For and on behalf of the Family.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam