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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:
  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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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 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)
  • "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.
  • +22993850131 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: DR ALFRED GONVOU <dralfredgonvou@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2007 22:11:29 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY MY FRIEND



DR ALFRED GONVOU,MANAGER,AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (A.D.B),COTONOU,REPUBLIC OF BENIN, WEST AFRICA.PERSONAL EMAIL:dralfred_gonvou@excite.comTEL:+229 93 85 01 31. Dear Friend,I am Dr.Alfred Gonvou, Manager,Auditing and Accounting Department in the African Development Bank, Cotonou,Republic Of Benin in West Africa.There is the sum of Thirty Two Million United States Dollars($32Million),belonging to a German business magnate and property consultant, Late Andreas Schranner. The late Mr.Schranner died in a plane crash on Monday, 31st July, 2000 alongside his family members.There is more to the tragic story of the death of Andreas Schranner and the family from this BBC report as at the date:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm I also observed that since his sudden death,the bank has made frantic efforts to locate his relations, but all attempts failed.To avoid the board of directors taking advantage of the funds,I concealed the idea of contacting you so that you will stand as the Next of kin by sending an application for claim of the funds to the bank as a Next of Kin or business partner to the late Andreas Schranner.I will really need your unflinching support and co-operation to have the funds transferred to your nominated bank account.Everything have been put in place for a smooth operation as a staff of this bank, as I have all the informations you will need to cliam this fund. As a Civil servant still in an active service we are prohibited to operate a foreign account,that is why I have seek for a foreign partner who can assist me in receiving this fund.At the same time advice me for a lucrative business investment which he will be managing or on the other hand,help me to oversee on my behalf pending when I will retire and possibly come over for our investment.

For this reason I am contacting you for such undertaken and if eventually you are willing and ready for such business,I have agreed to give you 40%(Fourty Percent) of the total sum while I shall have 50%(Fifty Percent) and the remaining 10%(Ten Percent) has been mapped out for any expenses we might encounter during the processing of the transfer of the above sum. I would also require you to provide me with your contact address,telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.
You should be rest assured that the business is hundred percent(100%) risk free and do not use the advantage to betray me once you recieve this fund into your account. Please if you are interested in assisting me, you are therefore advice to contact me on my Personal Email Address above. I look forward to receiving your positive response to this regard.

Yours Sincerely,DR ALFRED GONVOU.+229 93 85 01 31.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam