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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22997313616 (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.
  • info.paymentcenterbenin@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER JOHN WILL" <barr_johnwill@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:23:55 +0200
Subject: CONTACT DR.MARTINS NORWEL ECOWAS PAYMENT DEPARTMENT


*ECOWAS PAYMENT DEPARTMENT,
22 LION BUILDING HOUSE ESTATE JERICHO
ROAD,COTONOU.
DATE;24H MAY 2008
*
* ATTN;*

*(approved code 0411)

We here by to inform you that We have verify from our bank here that you
are being owed with the intrest yeild for a long time the sum
of 1.2M dollars which will be transfered to you as being instructed by this
Bank after a brief meeting held with (ECOWAS)and by the financial minister
of this country and his majestey Mr President of Benin Republic,

We Wish To Bring To You The Solution To This Problem. Right Now We Have
Arranged Your Payment Through online banking system which you will access
the transfer of your fund via your computer system ,This Is The Latest
Instruction From Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS),But to
carry out this process you are to pay the sum of 265 dollars which is not
nogotiable for the opening of non residential account and its activations
for smooth transfer and bear in mind that this is the only solutions to this
tranfer and that is the only fee involved in it ,This is my words and if you
have questions feel free to ask in return to *
*This mail to our payment director *
**
*DR.MARTINS NORWEL *
*via this email address,
**info.paymentcenterbenin@yahoo.fr*<info.paymentcenterbenin@yahoo.fr>
*Telephone;+229 97 313 616*
*
*
*So You are advise to send to her the below informations to enable her
access your payment and effect the transfer within 24hrs
1. Full Name
2. Phone And Fax Number
3. Your Address
4. Your Age And Current Occupation
5. Attach Copy Of Your Identification*

*You have to reply this email immediately for fast actions *

*THANKS AND REGARDS
Barrister John Will
THE AUDIT CHAIRMAN ,
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK OF BENIN, COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam