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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "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.
  • +22993997667 (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.
  • adb.beninoffice@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "Uche Ben" <uchebenc@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 11:55:21 +0200
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD PAYMENT NOTIFICATION


Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft
of Eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($850,000.00) but I did not hear
from you since that time then I went and deposited the Draft with AFRICAN
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF BENIN here in Cotonou, Benin Republic, because I
traveled to Japan to see my boss and will not come back till next month end.
I have arranged with them to make your payment to you with their new ATM
MASTER CARD which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE
around the globe/world.

You have to contact the International Bank of Benin with your full
contact information's such as follows:
1. FULL NAME,...............
2. ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD;.............
3. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER;.................
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION;...................

However, Kindly contact the below person who is in position to process and
release your ATM Master Card.


DR. TERRY EJOR
DIRECTOR, ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK OF BENIN
EMAIL adb.beninoffice@yahoo.fr
Phone; +22993997667

I paid for all the processing and delivery charges, the only money that your
are going to pay to them is only $185 Dollars which they will use to open
your ATM Account with the Bank and send the ATM Master CARD to your address
with the pin code number.

Try to contact them as soon as possible to quicken the process of your ATM
Card before your Draft gets expired.
Let me know as soon as you receive your ATM Master Card. Write the bank now
and call them on phone to let them know that you have provided the
information to enable them creat the ATM Card with your information and name
immediately.

Thanks.
Mr. Uche Ben.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam