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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)
  • "processing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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.
  • atm_uncliaming_dept@yahoo.fr
  • 3aatm_uncliaming_dept@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "philip jim" <philip_jim8@ig.com.br>
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:43:23 +0200
Subject: Good news


Good news
My Dear Friend,
How are you together with your Family Today? Hope all is going normally,
Dear my latest news to bring you today that i am finaly convert your
$900.000.00USD into an ATM CARD by which you can easiry received it through
Via Atm Shipping Office Department Cotonou Benin Republic.
Meanwhile your funds $900.000.00USD has been convert into the Atm Switch
Cards which has been approve by the Government of du benin and the Switch
Card code of the funds are stated below (#6742) which you can use to struct
like about $2,500.00 per day to any ATM Bank nearest you in your Country.
Therefore you have to Contact them immediately and the only money you have
to send to received your Card from them is the processing fee $135.00 only
to received your Card from the Department ok.
Here is thier Contact address and you can Contact them with below
information ;
ATM UNCLIAMING DEPARTMENT COTONOU BENIN
Manager:Dr.Mike Ben
Email:atm_uncliaming_dept@yahoo.fr <Email%3Aatm_uncliaming_dept@yahoo.fr>

Telephone :+22997354187
Contact them imediately and get back to us earier once you get intouch with
them ok and below is what they need to deliver your Card to your address;

Your Full Name.....
Country Locate.
Home address.......... .
Telephone....
Immediately you contact them you get back and let me know.

Thanks & God Bless
Regards
Mr Philip Jim

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam