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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
• 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.
  • +22993890522 (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.
  • atm_payment_card_department0@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jamesarnold@freenet.de
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:47:27 +0200
Subject: ATM MASTER CARD CENTRE FINANCIAL BANK PLC


Attn..,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick
your Bank
Draft worth US$950.000.00. but did not hear from you since
that time
then I went and deposited the Draft with FINANCIAL BANK PLC
here in
Benin Republic, because I travelled to Japan to see my Boss and
will not
come back till next month end.

I have arranged with them to
make your payment to you with their new
ATM MASTER CARD which you can
use to withdraw your money in any ATM
MACHINE around the globe. You have
to contact the FINANCIAL BANK PLC with
your full contact informations
such as follows.

1. FULL NAME
2. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND
THE ATM CARD
3. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT
OCCUPATION
5. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION

However, Kindly
contact the below person who is in position to release
your ATM CARD.


REV DR.OBI GINTERS.
ATM MASTER CARD CENTRE FINANCIAL BANK PLC
MOBILE :
+229 -9389- 0522EMAIL: atm_payment_card_department0@yahoo.fr I have
paid for the processing and delivery charges.The only Money that
your
are going to pay to them is only $125 Dollars which they will use
to
obtain the Affidevit Of Onwership from the Federal High Court Of
Benin
Republic.

Try to contact them as soon as possible to quicken the
processing of
your card before your draft gets Expired . Let me know as
soon as you
receive your Card.


Thanks.Yours faithfully.
Mr.James
Arnold.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam