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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +22993690835 (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.
  • ivory_bank_plc05@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Federal Ministry Of Finance" <ministryoffinance05@gala.net>
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:45:39 -0800
Subject: Contact Your Only Authorised Paying Bank.


*FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE REPUBLIC Du BENIN.
YOUR INHERITANCE, COMPENSATION APPROVED PAYMENT.
APPOINTED BANK FOR YOUR INHERRITED PAYMENTS.
YOUR PAYMENT APPROVED REF NO IS: FCB45/024/857.

The Board of IVORY MARCHANT BANK PLC & THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
REPUBLIC OF BENIN Here by notify you of your inherited payment funds, after
the meeting held on 26th of SEPTEMBER 2008. His Exelence the president of
the Federal Republic Du Benin. has Instructed that Ivory marchant bank plc
should send your funds through western union / money gram money transfer for
easier receive of your inherrited funds without any further delay. to avoid
paying any money to the fraud stars that is going on globally. we agreed
that your funds should not send to you through international bank draft,
casher,s cheque or diplomatic cash delivery to avoid loosing your inherrited
funds or paying extra money to customs overseas or to local security agents
for customs yellow tag / non inspection clearance etc which the scammers
used to defraud foreigners.You are required to send your name and address to
ivory marchant bank plc were you want your fund to be send to you through
western union / money gram at the maximium amount you will be receiving each
day starting from tomorrow is the sum of $10,000.00. Also your are required
to send to the paying bank ( ivory marchant bank plc) the sum of $450..00
dollar only for Re-newing and recofirmation of your file that was already
deposited with them inline with your full name, address and direct telephone
number as below at: *

*Beneficiary full name:________________________
Beneficiary,s Address:________________________________
Direct Telephone:_____________________________*

*Contact them with your information as above to:
Contact Person: MR. Gabriel Ejike.
(ivory marchant bank plc. Benin).
Direct Tel/Fax::+229 93 690835.
Email: **ivory_bank_plc05@yahoo.fr* <ivory_bank_plc05@yahoo.fr>* *

*Ask them how and where you can send them your information inline with the
$450 reprocessing fee. Feel free to contact them and dont fail to let us
know as soon you are paid.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. RAYMOND IKEM.
FOR: (F.M.F.)
COTONOU, REPUBLIC DU BENIN.
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam