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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.

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)
  • "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.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +2299379234 (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.
  • oceanicbankplc027@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: johnahmed <johnahmed@orange.nl>
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:23:36 +0100 (CET)
Subject: WELL COME TO OCEANIC BANK PLC LIMITED.


WELL COME TO OCEANIC BANK PLC LIMITED.
BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU WEST AFRICA
PHONE NUMBER +229-93-792-34

Email (oceanicbankplc027@yahoo.fr)

Dear Friend
This is to notify all our clients about the latest development concerning all the atm card that are left in our custody. which yours are inclusive Besides, your where given a bill of $130. in order to receive their atm card of which we didn’t hear from you for sometime now.
Hence, our Bank is now offering a Special help to all their customers that are having their atm card in our custody due to because of price before. in order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $65. to receive all their atm card abandoned in our custody.

Besides, my dear, this is an opportunity for you to comply and have your atm card to be deliver to your destination address. Because we doing this to help all customers for the year before we enter A New projent for the year again,
But remember that after (one week) if you did not make the payment then we will divert your funds to govement fund to aviod problem or we will cansul the deliver because this year is not last year So hurry up so that you will meet up before the date,


Bank is now waiting for you to come up and pick your $750,00,00 USD or to send the fee $65 to the name given to you and remember to forward your full information were the atm will be deliver,
Send the money through Western Union Money Transfer with the information below:

1. Receiver Name :=======Mr Bede .C. Ajana
2. City/Country:==========Cotonou - Benin Republic.
3. Question=============Who is created you?
4. Answer:=============God
5. Amonut:=============US$65.00

Forward the payment control number, sender name and address after sending to enable pick up by the cashier at western union office here.
Waiting control number.

Best Rgards,
DIRECTOR JOHN AHMED BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU.
WELL COME TO OCEANIC BANK PLC LIMITED.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam