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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:

• 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:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +22993697700 (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_zbank@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "United Nations" <unofficefilexx005@ig.com.br>
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:49:54 +0200
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary.


UNITED NATIONS LIAISON OFFICE REPUBLIC OF BENIN
9 BP 152 PORTO NOVO,CARREFOUR 24 REPUBLIC DE BENIN
OUR REF: UNN/APXB/TF/08


IMMEDIATE PAYMENT #:WB/PC/FMF/MIN/UN/APXB/08.


Attn: Beneficiary,


Be inform that after a brief meeting with the World Bank Paris Club and Apex
Bank Board of Directors with the Board of Directors of United Nations
Representative here in Benin republic by her Majesty the Minister of
Finance, to release all long terms debt owned in Africa to Foreigners whom
has been one way or the other denied their Inheritance or Contract payment.


The Zenith Bank International Plc Benin has been set aside for urgent
release of all Funds owned by any of the Financial institute in Africa.
Meanwhile Your name was discovered on the list of the outstanding payment
who have not yet receive their payments,your payment will be release to you
as soon as you respond to this letter.


Also note that from the records file, your outstanding payment is
US$6.5M(Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) kindly
re-confirm the followings Information to Dr.Ken Mamah,the Director Zenith
Bank International Remittance Department who is In-charge of the payment via
E-mail:(info_zbank@sify.com) Phone:+229 93 69 77 00.

1) Your full name.
2) Phone number/address.
3) Profession, age and marital status.

As soon as the Director Zenith Bank International Remittance Department
receive your information, your US$6.5M will be Transfer to your nominated
Bank account from Zenith Bank International Plc Benin.


Note that while the United Nations Body is involved to handle this payment
is to keep a clean slate of all debts that has been owned to foreigners
because of some Government officials and individual who has tried to
transfer your Fund to you but failed for not being honesty.


You are hereby advise to stop further communication to whom ever it may be
in-regards to your payment and comply to this, to avoid terminating your
payment.
The United Nations Organisation will not be interested in your story of not
receiving your payment if you fail to abide to this Instruction.

Yours Faithful,

Mrs. Grace Cleark
Public Relation Officer
United Nations Organisation Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam