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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22995678812 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "drkennydossou Gazeta.pl" <drkennydossou@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 10:50:52 +0200
Subject: TRUSTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.


*FROM THE DESK OF DR.KENNY A. DOSSOU
BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER,
CONTINENTA BANK OF BENIN (CBB)
COTONOU BENIN REQULIC *

*Dear Good Friend,*
* *
*I AM THE MANAGER OF BILL AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CONTINENTA BANK OF BENIN (CBB). I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE AS I CONTACT YOU IN
SUCH A SURPRISING MANNER. BUT I RESPECTFULLY INSIST YOU READ THIS LETTER
CAREFULLY AS I AM OPTIMISTIC IT WILL OPEN DOOR FOR UNIMAGINABLE FINANCIAL
REWARDS FOR BOTH OF US.*
* *
*IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF THIRTEEN MILLION SEVEN
HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS ($13.7M)ONLY,IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE
OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN A PLAN
CRASH.*
* *
*SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH,WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEST OF
KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE IT TO UNLESS
SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS NEST OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS
INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE LEARNT THAT ALL
HIS SUPPOSED NEST OF KIN OR RELATION DIED ALONG WITH HIM AT THE PLAN CRASH
LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM.*
* *
*IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I NOW DECIDED TO MAKE THIS
BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU SO THAT THE MONEY COULD BE RELEASE TO YOU AS THE
NEST OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED FOR SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT
DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND I DON'T WANT THIS MONEY TO GO
INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILL.*
* *
*THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDELINE HIRER STIPULATES THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAINED
UNCLAIMED AFTER EIGHT YEARS,THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE BANK
TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND.*
* *
*THE REQUEST FOR A FOREIGNER AS NEST OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASIONED
BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A BENINOISE CANNOT STAND
AS NEST OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.*
* *
*WE AGREE THAT 30% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS A FOREIGN PARTNER,IN
RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF A FOREIGN ACCOUNT, 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR
EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE BUSINESS AND 60% WOULD BE FOR ME.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR.KENNY A. DOSSOU *
*CALL +229 95 67 88 12 *
**
* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam