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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.

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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:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22993693668 (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.
  • arinzeaguleri2@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "arinze agul" <arinze.agul2@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:29:51 +0200
Subject: From: Barr Arinze Agu


From: Barr Arinze Agu
Manager Credit and Foriegn Bills
Regent Bank Plc Akpakpa Dume,
Cotonou-Benin Republic.

E-mail: (arinzeaguleri2@myway.com)

Attention: Sir/Madam,

My name is Barr Arinze Agu, the Manager, Credit and Foreign bills of Regent
Bank Plc. I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of our bank with
account number 14-255-114 whose name is Late Mr. Morris Thompson, an
American by Citizen who perished in a plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight
261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter.
You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site which I got during
my investigation;
http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.listSince the demise
of this our customer,

I personally has watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all
has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of US$15.5M
(Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which has been
with our branch for a very long time. On this note, I decided to seek for
whom his name shall be used as the Next of Kin as no one has come up to be
the next of kin.

And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than Ten
Years, because the money will be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed
fund after this period. In view of this I got your contact when making a
research on a foreigner customer
I will use this great opportunity.and for your assistant i will give you
30% of the total amount then 10% has been maped out to donate to the
motherless baby home, while the remaining 60% will be for me and my partner.
Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the
letter of application which you will type sign and send back to our bank to
enable us start this transaction. I will not fail to bring to your notice
that this business is hitch free and that you should not entertain any fear
as all modalities for the smooth and easy transfer of this fund has been
finalized,

This transaction will be completed within five banking days of recieving
your response, after you apply to the bank as a relation to the deceased.
When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your
decision including your private informations such as below

1, Your Full name and your home address
2,Your Mobile Tel/Fax numbers
3,Your Passport picture or ID
4, Your Occupation
5, Your marital status

I wait for your quick communication through my private Email (
arinzeaguleri2@myway.com) or you can reach me on my direct telephone

number +229-936-93668
Yours Sincerely,
Barr Arinze Agu

Manager Credit and Foriegn Bills Regent Bank Plc.

Cotonou Rep Of Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam