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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:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +229 (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.
  • mark_bello2000@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mark bello <markbellog37@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:31:01 +0100
Subject: THANK GOD I HAVE FOUND YOU.



From Barrister Mark Bello.Head, Mark Legal House Firm, Industriel Quartier des Elites,Cotonou-Benin Republic.Private E-Mail: mark_bello2000@yahoo.fr

ATTN Timmermans: I am Barrister Mark Bello , private attorney to Late Lester Bloom Timmermans , a national of your country, who used to work as the Director of Société Nationale de Commercialisation des Produits Pétroliers (SONACOP)Oil Company in Benin Republic West Africa, Here in after shall be Referred to as my client. On October, 15th 2001, my client, His wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident at Cotonou-Abome express-road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives but all efforts proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track His last name over the Internet to locate any of his Family's member hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in Repatrating his fund valued 11.5 Million dollars (Eleven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Continental Bank Cotonou Republic of Benin where this huge amount were deposited. The Bank has issued me a notice to provide his relative or have the account confiscated, Since I have been unsuccessful in Locating the relatives for over four years. For the fact that I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 4 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the rightful next of kin to my late client,since you have the same last name with him, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then you and me can Share the money 50% to me and 50% to you.
I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim, all I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through, I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. also get back to me with the following informations for proper Identifications. Your Full Name and Address,Your Age, Occupation and Position,Your Telephone Mobile and Fax Number for CommunicationPurpose.
Please get back to me through my office email address: mark_bello2000@yahoo.frI await your Call and reply ASAP.Best Regards,Barrister Mark Bello
+229/97232630

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam