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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:
  • "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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22997139600 (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.
  • mrleopius@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Pius Mr Leo" <mrlpius@mailbox.hu>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 07:35:26 -0800
Subject: FROM MR.LEO PIUS


FROM MR.LEO PIUS
DIRECTOR INCHARGE OF
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT,
BANK OF AFRICA
COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC

ATTN PLEASE,

IT'S MY PLEASURE WRITING TO YOU AT THIS MOMENT OF THE DAY, I AM MR.LEO PIUS
THE DIRECTOR INCHARGE OF AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT OF BANK OF AFRICA
COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC.

I AND MY COLLEAGUES DEEM IT FIT TO CONTACT YOU REGARDING A TRANSACTION THAT
WILL FAVOUR BOTH OF US AT THE END.I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A
REPUTABLE AND RELIABLE PERSON TO HELP ME CLAIM THE FUNDS IN QUESTION.

WE DISCOVERED THE SUM OF SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES
DOLLARS (USD7.5M) BELONGING TO A DECEASED CUSTOMER OF THIS BANK.

THE FUND HAS BEEN LYING IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT WITHOUT ANYBODY COMING TO PUT
CLAIM OVER THE MONEY SINCE THE ACCOUNT OWNER LATE MR. DAVID VAN BUSKIRK FROM
SAN DIEGO, WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE DECEMBER 25TH BENIN PLANE CRASH.

THE SAID FUND IS NOW READY FOR TRANSFER TO A FORIEGN ACCOUNT WHOSE OWNER
WILL BE PORTRAYED AS THE BENEFICIARY AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED
CUSTOMER OF THE BANK.
THE FORIEGN ACCOUNT OWNER WILL IMPOST HIMSELF AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE
DECEASED AND RESPOND POSITIVELY LIKE A TRUE NEXT OF KIN WHO WISHES TO SPEED
UP THE RELEASE AND TRANSFER OF HIS INHERITED FUND.

IF THE OVER DUE FUND IS NOT CLAIMED BY THE END OF NEXT QUARTER, THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN WILL TAKE OVER THE OWNERSHIP OF
THE FUND IN LINE WITH THE FEDERAL EDICT ACT OF 1979.

WE DO NOT WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS MONEY, THAT
IS WHY I CONTACTED YOU FOR US TO DO THE DEAL TOGETHER, SO THAT WE WILL
PORTRAY YOU AS THE BONAFIDE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED WHOSE NAME IS MR.
DAVID VAN BUSKIRK.

IF YOU ACCEPT TO CARRY OUT THIS PROJECT WITH US, WE WILL OFFER YOU 30% OF
THE TOTAL SUM, WHILE I AND MY COLLEAGUES INVOLVED WILL TAKE 70% OF THE TOTAL
SUM.

UPON YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO DO THIS DEAL WITH US, WE WILL JOINTLY EFFECT THE
TRANSFER WITHIN EIGHT BANK WORKING DAYS.

BE REST ASSURED THAT, THIS TRANSACTION CARRIES NO RISK AND NO EXTRA
RESPONSSIBILITIES ON YOUR PART, EXCEPT THE ABOVE MENTIONED ROLES AND
NORMALLY, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ABSOLUTE INFORMATION AND ABSOLUTE
SECRECY THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THIS TRANSACTION, BECAUSE DISCUSSING IT
WITH A THIRD PARTY MIGHT JEOPARDISE THE ENTIRE TRANSACTION.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR INTERESTING RESPONSE ON THIS PROJECT
AS THIS WILL GREATLY ENRICH THE BOTH OF US AT THE END.THANKS.
ALSO GIVE ME YOUR MOBILE LINE

PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH THIS ALTERNATIVE MAIL:(mrleopius@excite.com)

BEST REGARDS,

MR LEO PIUS

TEL +229-97139600.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam