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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22993865207 (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.
  • tome0@gazeta.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "tome23 Gazeta.pl" <tome23@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:27:39 +0200
Subject: From Mr Edward .J. Tome,


*From Mr Edward .J. Tome,
Auditing and Account manager
Central Bank Of West Africa.
Phone:+229-9386-5207
Email: **tome0@gazeta.pl* <tome0@gazeta.pl>
*Dear friend,
I am Mr Edward .J. Tome, the director in charge of auditing and accounting
section of the Central Bank of West Africa (BCEAO) Republic of Benin, West
Africa, and also the special accounting officer to late Mr. Brett harwood ,a
forigner. He was a seasoned importer of texiles and a contractor with Benin
Cement Company,Cotonou, who unfortunately died in a plane crash of Union
Transport Africaines Flight Boeing 727 in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on 25th
December, 2003.
For further details of the Plane Crash,Please Visit
**http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html*<http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html>
*Before his death on the 25th December 2003, Mr.Brett has a fixed deposit
account with the bank and no other person knows about this account or have
any information relating to this account.The account has no beneficiary nor
did he leave anyone as the next-of-kin other than him and my investigation
reveal that his supposed next-of-kin died along with him in the crash.
Since then, I have made several enquiries to locate any of his extended
relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful
attempts, I decided to contact you.
I'm contacting you to assist in remittance of a dormant fund as the next of
kin left behind by Mr. Brett so as not to allow the bank confiscate or
declare the funds unserviceable according to Benin Republic financial law on
unclaimed bills which the government usually map out for the purchase of
ammunitions which are the major course of connflicts in the west of Africa.
Consequently, I'm seeking your consent to present you as the next-of-kin of
the deceased so that the outstanding fixed deposit (US$22.1M) will be
remitted into any designated account of yours to be shared by both of us in
the ratio of 60% to me and 40% for you.
I have all necessary legal documents to back up this claim. All that is
required of you is absolute honesty, total commitment, co-operation &
absolute confidentiality. Be rest-assured that this transaction will be
executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect both parties from
breach of the law and it is 100% risk free and attracts no authorities and
every information you will require as the next of kin will be forwarded to
you after your final acceptance to help me champion this deal.
If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly email your following
information to me:
a. Full Name(s)
b. Direct phone & fax number(s)
c. Your direct email & any other information you may deem helpful.
Thank you for your cooperation until I read from you.Please reply me via my
private mailbox **tome0@gazeta.pl* <tome0@gazeta.pl>* and call me for
further information on +229 9386-5207.
Sincerely yours,
Mr Edward .J. Tome.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam