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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
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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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "the help of diplomats" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ifeanyi isiokwe" <ifeanyi_isiokwe@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: if_okwe@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 03:04:44 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY

FROM THE DESK OF
MR IF OKWE
cemac Bank of africa plc.
(bank for International Settlement)
headquarters complex cotonou,
republic of benin.

MY DEAR FRIEND.


MY NAME IS MR IF OKWE.
Iam the head of Operations cemac Bank of africa plc.
Sometime in 1986, a certain man Mr.Johnson Eric brought a luggage
marked
family treasure to me for safe-keeping in our bank. I met the man in
1980
in America and he introduced himself as a SHIP CAPTAIN. We became
intimate
more when he realized my profession,there and then, he informed me
about
the consignment. However, I did not take it so serious not until he
brought the box to my office.I assisted him in depositing the
treasure
and
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT issued to him.However,he saw me as someone
trustworthy and decided to hand-over the document to
me for safe-keeping. He left back to his country, though he is always
on the Sea being a Sailor.
All our correspondence was through telephone.Our discussion stopped
since
last year when I called his telephone number, and behold someone else
had
bought over the telephone. the new subscriber told me that Mr.
Johnson
Eric
died along-side, his wife and only two children at the World Trade
Centre
during the BIN-LADEN bomb blast, in America. This news shocked me so
much
that MR. Johnson Eric did not leave any of his contact address or
next
of
kin,
and since then all plans to trace any of his relatives proved
abortive.
Honestly, I became confused, and resorted to informing my colleague
in
the
office, who suggested that we should open the box a little to know
the
content proper.
The box was carefully opened and GUESS WHAT? BILLS OF ONE HUNDRED
UNITED
STATE DOLLARS, denomination carefully defaced. I and my colleague
agreed
and secretly took the box out from the bank and deposited it with a
security
company here. We have concluded plans to invest the money total five
million
united staed dollars $5m(USD) out of cotonou republic of benin and
required an assistance from a Would-be Trustworthy Over-Seas Partner
who
will help us receive the money overseas.
If you can assist us, we can arrange and bring the money to your
country
by the help of Diplomats, for investment. I and my colleague has
agreed
to
give you 30% of the total sum. Be rest-assured that the transaction
is
100% risk-free and your urgent response is highly needed. So we
cannot
look for another person.
Best regards,
MR IF OKWE.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam