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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.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • citybank@blida.info (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: cbc code <cbcode@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <citybank@blida.info>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:46:05 -0400
Subject: From Michael







INT'L REMITTANCE TELEX DEPARTMENT
OFFICE, CITIBANK ABIDJAN.COTE D'IVOIRE
AV.DELAFOSSE,01 BP 3698 - ABIDJAN 01
SWIFT :CITICIAXXXX
TELEX : 22121 CITIBANK
TEL : (225) 20 22 10 46
E-mail : citybank@blida.info

Our reference 320/725/NWl
DATE: 11th oct., 2007.

This Email is intended for the named recipient only and may contain privileged and confidential information. If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately. Please do not disclose the contents to anyone or copy it to outside parties. Thank you.


Dear Friend,

I hope my mail meets you personal ethics. My name is Michael Wood; I work as the logistics Manager in city banks based in Cote d’Ivoire. I am writing you to seek your indulgence and assistance in making a transfer of $1.5million USD belonging to a late client, Mr. Gerald Van Braak from who died some years ago.

Since his death nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money as he has no family Member who is aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds. Information from the National Immigration also states that he was single on entry into Cote d’Ivoire.

I have confidentially discussed this issue with some of the bank officials and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin to the deceased and have the funds released to you after due processes have been followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is Legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other Illegal act.

Kindly reply me stating your interest and I shall furnish you with the details and necessary procedures with which to make the transfer progress. I am anxiously awaiting your response.


Rev. Dr.Michael Wood.Head of Computer Credit/Telex Department.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam