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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "remmitance department" (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)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "remmitance department" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • +22997831959 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Donka Ben" <donkaben5@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: bendonka1@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:45:08 +0100
Subject: FROM MR DONKA BEN


CONTINENTAL BANK BENIN
FROM MR DONKA BEN
DIRECTOR INCHARGE OF
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT,
CONTINATAL BANK,
COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC.

Dear ,

I am Mr Donka Ben ,The Auditor in charge of Foreign Remmitance Department of
CONTINATAL BANK Benin in the Commercial city of Cotonou,Benin Republic.This
is a very confidential proposition for you.On Sept21st 2003,an Importer of
Textiles and Automobiles for the past Thirteen years,Mr.Brett Harwood made a
numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months,valued at
US$18.7musd(Eighteen million seven hundred thousand United States Dollars)
in my branch.

Upon maturity on Sept 20th 2006 as his Credit Officer,I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.After a month,we
sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his employees,that Mr.Brett
Harwood was one of the passengers who died with his entire family in the
ill-fated plane crash involving a boeing 727 UTA Chartered Flight that took
off from Cotonou Benin Republic and crashed into Atlantic Ocean on thursday
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

Further investigations,and all attempts to trace his next of kin was
fruitless.Again,I made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Brett
Harwood did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official
documents,including his Bank Deposit paper work in my Bank. This sum of
US$18.7 million USD is still sitting in my Bank no one will ever come
forward to claim it.According to the International Banking ethics,codes and
Laws,at the expiration of 3 (Three) years,the money will revert to the
ownership of the Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in
as the next of kin to Mr.Brett Harwood.This is simple,I will like you to
respond immediately with your full names and contact informations so as I
will send to you a specimen copy of an application form which you will
refill and send to the bank putting claim over the said balance with the
bank as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased. The money will be paid
into your account for us to share in the ratio of 45% for me and 45% for you
while 5% will be set aside for any expenses that may arise in the process of
transfering this fund into your choosen/nominated bank account you wish to
receive it and 5% to the motherless and the needy in your country.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
informations. Please send to me your confidential telephone and fax numbers
for easy communication , oral discussion and more directives on what next to
do. You should observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your
assistance to invest my share in your country which you will be the arrow
head of
the investment. I must not fail to tell you that this transaction is
totally risk free and legitimate.

Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and GOD bless.
Mr Donka Ben
+229-97831959

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam