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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million 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 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.
  • +2348023661769 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: ebonam_2@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:45:56 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?ATTN/URGENT=20BUSINESS=20PARTNERSHIP?=

FROM THE DESK OF,
EBONAM MORRIS (Ph.d)
UNION BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC PLC
NO 34 AHMADU BELLO WAY,
UNION CRESCENT COTONUO.
TEL: 234 8023661769

I am a senior Accountant in my Bank and Accounting officer to Mr.Arthur
Jackson,who was a contractor with the Federal government of BENIN. On the
21st of April 2001, my customer, his wife and their two children were involved
in auto-crash along the ever busy Sagumu-Ibadan High Way.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then,the
Board of Directors of my Bank have made several enquires to their embassy
to locate any of my customer's extended relations but to no avail. Hence
the need to contact you is to help me in repartriateing the funds into your
bank account since i have all the account informations.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and Property left
behind by my client before they get Confiscated or declared unserviceable
by the bank where this Huge deposits of US$10M was lodged.The Bank has published
several Notice for the Next of Kin of the deceased to apply for collection
of this Funds or have the account confiscated within a short Period of time.


Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased
so that the proceeds of this Account valued at US$10 million dollars can
be paid to you and Then you and me can share the money,60% to me and 30%
to you,then 10% for expenses both in your country or here.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup any claim
we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable this deal
through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate Arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the Law.

Please get in touch with my email and send to me your Telephone and fax
numbers to enable us further about this Transaction.

Best regards,
EBONAM MORRIS,
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
UNION BANK OF BENIN PLC

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam