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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
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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.

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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:
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (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)
• 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.
  • +22997605011 (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.
  • citybankofficefile@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: citybankofficefile@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:21:25 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?URGENT=20RESPONSE?=

FROM DESK OF MRS.BLESSING EBELE
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OFFICER CITY NATIONAL
BANK, COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
TEL: +229-97-60-50-11

ATTENTION DEAR CLIENT.

THE MANAGEMENT OF CITY NATIONAL BANK COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN, WISHES TO
INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF OUR CASHIER DRAFT CHEQUE ISSUED IN
YOUR FAVOUR WITH CASHIER AMOUNT OF $800,000 ONLY,FROM YOUR AGENT AND HE
TOLD US TO CANCELLED THE CHEQUE,BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO RECEIVE IT AGAIN,

SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY AND TELL US WHY YOU WANT US
TO CANCEL THE CASHIER CHECK AND WHAT IS GOING ON.

YOU CAN CONTACT OUR DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN REMITTANCE DR.JOHNSON UDO ON THIS
CONTACT EMAIL( citybankofficefile@myway.com ) BEFORE WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION.

WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL

THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MRS.BLESSING EBELE
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OFFICER CITY NATIONAL
BANK, COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
TEL: +229-97-60-50-11

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam