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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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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:

• 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)
• 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.
  • +27838904245 (South Africa, 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.
  • bonkay100@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "bonkay james" <claim222223@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:46:08 +0200
Subject: RE: URGENT ASSISTANCE

Good day,

My name is Bonkay James, I am a branch manager of a commercial bank in Johannesburg South Africa. There is an account that has not been operational for the past five years as the owner died leaving nobody as the next of kin. My bank shall confiscate the amount in the account
(US$15Million) by the end of next month if we are not able to track  anyone that knows the beneficiary. I want to present you as someone that is  known by the beneficiary so that this money would be paid to you; then we  share it. If you
are interested, I will furnish you with the details that you need to know about the account. I will also direct you on how to go  about laying claims for the money. Please get back to me immediately on this  so that we act fast and get the money over to you. I contacted you (a stran! ger) bec! ! ause I cannot do this with someone that is related to me to avoid suspiscion from my bank.

You can reach me on my mobile tel +2783 890 42 45. Finally, i would also like you to impart me with your private telephone to enhance our  relationship if you're interested. I await your urgent reply.

Best regards,

Mr Bonkay
send reply to; bonkay100@yahoo.com

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam