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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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (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.
  
• 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.
  • +22997644569 (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.
  • cahen.avoc@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WILLIAMS KOFFI <william_koffi122@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: cahen.avoc@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:36:30 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Top Urgent


CABINET D’AVOCAT Cahen, Avocats Associés
Barristers & Solicitors, Attorney Representative
C/208 Zone Industriel, Quartier des Elites Cotonou République Du Bénin
Tel: +229 97644 569 Email: cahen.avoc@yahoo.com Web: http://www.hierosgamos.org/

Dear Friend,

I am a legal practitioner and an import-export consultant in West African Sub-Region. One of my clients is interested in investing multi Million Dollars with your company, and she is interested in investing in your country and in your care.

Kindly forward all your personal or company`s activities to me for immediate decision on the investment program.

Total amount to be invest is Twelve Million United States Dollars ($12 Million USD) Cash.

She is an Origin of Democratic Republic Of Congo, immediately I receive your details I will inform her and feed you with her arrangements.

Please reply to my office email box cahen.avoc@yahoo.com.

Anticipating your immediate reply.

My regards to you and your family.

William Koffi Esq.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam