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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)
• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22993149206 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • michael01_moloto@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: bles thabo <bless1t@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 12:10:19 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE


Dear Sir/Madam

Actually, I and my associates did not in any way mean to startle you or shock you by our request to you.We had to ask for your help because of the situation that we found ourselves.We write to you after having given much consideration and felt, may be we could work with you for the betterment of both us involved.For the purpose of clarity,I am Blessing Thabo (Mrs ) the, Chief Auditor of Bank INTERNATIONAL du Benin in collabration with Mr MICHAEL MOLOTO the manager of the bank.

By virtue of our official positions we where able to discovered an abandoned account with the sum of US$17.5(SEVENTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATED DOLLARS) in a non- resident account that belongs to one foreign customer who died in November 1999 in a ghastly motor accident.Since we got the information about his death,we have been mornitoring the account to see his next of kin to come over and claim his money because we notrelease it unless someone applies for it as next of Kin or relation to the deceased, as indicated in our banking guidelines,

I want to let you know in confidence that till date know one has ever come forward for the claim. It is therefore on this note that we decided to write you if possible make business with you and release the money to you as the next of Kin or relative to the deceased.As the banking guidelines here in BENIN stipulate that if such money remained unclaimed after eight years, it will be transferred into the State/Government accounts as unclaimed fund.If you are interested in this deal we shall give you the whole informations and guide you on how to apply for it so that we do not face any complications from your side or from any one knowing what we have in hand.

With the appropriate documentation the ownership of the sum will be transferred to you after the validation and the authentication of the documents at the bank.I intend arriving at your place with the relevant original papers/documents within 48 hours as soon as you receive the notification of transfer from the bank. And I want to assure you that this business is 100% risk free as long as maximum confidentiality is maintained by you and us.

My colleague and I would require your personal guarantee concerning the safety availability of our share on demand When the fund is credited to your account. And Please even if you are not intrested I require you to keep this matter confidential and to yourself only as we are still in active government service as such would not want to be expose.The sharing of the fund shall been agreed by both of us If interest is shown we agreed to offer you 20% of the total money for your help.You can call on this number +229 93 14 92 06 or Reply by e- mail to:michael01_moloto@yahoo.co.uk as regards to the confidential nature of this matter .

REGARDS

BLESSING THABO (MRS).







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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam