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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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22997727990 (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.
  • ecobankbenin44@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: orji mbless <orjim8@hotmail.fr>
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:38:28 +0100
Subject: ECOBANK PLC , COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC



ATTN SIR/ MADAM,
THE MANAGEMENT OF ECOBANK PLC,COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC, WISHES TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF OUR BANK DRAFT WORTHS EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS USD$800,000.00 ISSUED IN YOUR FAVOUR FROM YOUR CUSTOMER FEW WEEKS AGO, THIS MORNING WE RECEIVED BACK THE CASHIER CHEQUE BY HIS SECRETARY AND HE TOLD US TODAY TO CANCEL THE ISSUED CHEQUE. BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO RECEIVE IT ANYMORE,SO WE DECIDED TO CONFIRM FROM YOU FIRST BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION, YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO CONTACT US FIRST TO VERIFY FROM YOU BEFORE THE CANCELLATION OF THE BANK DRAFT. WHAT IS GOING ON? AND WHY DO YOU ASKED HIM TO CANCEL THE CHEQUE OF USD$800,000.000 WHICH WAS WROTE ON YOUR BEHALF? YOU CAN NOW CONTACT OUR DIRECTOR GENERAL ( MR BANKOLE WILLIAMS) ON THIS EMAIL ADDRESS (ecobankbenin44@gmail.com ) OR GIVE HIM A CALL AT +229 97 7279 -90 BEFORE WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION. WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL, I TRIED TO SCAN COPY OF THE CASHIER BANK DRAFT AND EMAIL IT TO YOU BUT MY SCAN MACHINE DEVELOPED A PROBLEM NOW. NOTE: AFTER 48 HOURS AND YOU DID NOT CONTACT OUR DIRECTOR WE WILL TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY ON CANCELING THE CHEQUE.
THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.YOURS FAITHFULLY,MRS MERLE ORJI.FOREIGN OPERATIONSECOBANK PLC , COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC TEL: +229 93 691 074
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam