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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22993012282 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "James Okoro" <jamesokoro2@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 14:36:49 +0100
Subject: Re: Your email


Dear VICTIMNAME,

I am in receipt of your mail and the contents therein were noted. It is
really unfortunate for what happened to you. However, I am contacting you in
response to your email with regards to a Certified Bank Draft valued
US$1,500,000.00 which our Client Mr. Kachy Martins left under my care as his
account officer. I have checked from my records here and actually I have
confirmed that you are his business partner whom he instructed me to keep
the Draft for. Prior to his departure, he instructed me to release the Draft
to you as soon as you request for it at you own expense.

Now that I have heard from you, I will require the following information:-

1. Your physical address where you will like to receive the draft.
2. Your telephone number where you can be reached.

As soon as I am in receipt of these requested information, I will make
enquiry from the courier company on what it will cost you to have the Draft
dispatch to your stated address. I will let you know as soon as this is
done.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.

Regards,

James Okoro.
>From Account Department,
African Development Bank
Cotonou,Benin Republic.
Telephone +229 93012282

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam