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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:
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • jerry_adams_ecowas@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "steve koffi" <stevekoffi2@gala.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:32:48 +0100
Subject: CONTACT OUR PAYMENT OFFICE,YOUR PAYMENT IS READY


FROM THE DESK OF:MR STEVE KOFFI
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES(ECOWAS)
BENIN REPUBLIC



ATTN:THE BENEFICIARY,



ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS DUE FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE TO YOU.



The sum of US$3,000,000.00 (Three million USD) has been approved for
immediate release to you.This is the first instalment to be paid to you
under category 'A' from the contract/inheritance funds being owed to you.
You are therefore requested to forward to our business office:

ATTENTION: MR JERRY ADAMS
EMAIL: jerry_adams_ecowas@hotmail.fr

your following details for urgent accreditation and payment.
1.YOUR FULL NAMES
2.YOUR ADDRESS
3.YOUR PHONE/FAX NOS.
4.YOUR OCCUPATION
5.YOUR IDENTITY CARD
The paris club in their recent meeting with world bank and Ecowas leaders
undertook to clear backlog of debts owed to foreign contractors from 1990
within the contract period under review till date in the ecowas sub region.
To this effect,the first tranch of US$100,000,000.00 (one hundred million
USD) has been released by the world bank into the ecowas treasury and 250
contractors in different categories from USA and other parts of the world
are to benefit from this batch.
Forward your details to our appropriate department as directed for
authentication and release of your payment.The second tranch will be ready
in the third quater of 2008.


Yours Faithfully


steve Koffi
For:Ecowas

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam