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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • w3bline@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Company Webline" <webline4@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 20:29:52 +0100
Subject: PRIVATE AND URGENT.


PRIVATE AND URGENT.
Mr. Micheal Adamz.
Carre 777 Zogbo Mairre
Cotonou-Benin Republic.

Good day,

I am contacting you because of a business concerning a huge sum of money
from a deceased deposit in the Security and Finance company where I work.
Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one
apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will is well with
this transaction. I actually decided to contact you due to the urgency of
this transaction.

I discovered an abandoned deposit in my company owned by one of our foreign
customers who died along with his entire family as a result of an automobile
crash. He actually deposited this funds amounting to US$12,000,000.00
(Twelve million united states dollars), for safe keeping in my company here
in Benin Republic. Company file records shows that the funds was actually
for a project our late customer wanted to start in the near future (a multi
million Dollar steel plant in Florida, USA), before his sudden and untimely
death. As such since his death none of his relations or next-of-kin has come
forward to lay claims for this property as the heir, this is the basically
the reason why I have contacted you. My company cannot release the property
unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as
indicated in our operating guidelines.

Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next
of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by
me for the funds to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's next of
kin. It may interest you to know that I have secured from the probate an
order of madamus to locate any of deceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge
receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by
furnishing me with the following;

1. Beneficiary full name and address
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers
3. Occupation and position
4. Nationality and Date of birth
5. Marital status
6. Gender/sex

These requirements will enable me file letter of claim to the appropriate
departments for necessary approvals in your favour before you can personally
appear for the claim. I shall be compensating you with 30% of the total
money while 10% will be for any expenses incurred
the rest will be mine on final conclusion of this project. Please note that
your share stays while the rest shall be for me for investment purposes.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, take advantage of the trust I have
bestowed in you, I await your urgent mail. Please reply to my private and
confidential email: w3bline@myway.com

Best Regards,
Mr.Micheal Adamz.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam