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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (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. )
  • "huge deposit" (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 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)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +229977293900 (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.
  • frankcodumodu@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <barristerfrankodumodu2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:46:02 +0900 (JST)
Subject: FROM BARRISTER FRANK ODUMODU

FROM BARRISTER FRANK ODUMODU
Avocats Associ&eacute;s Zone
Industriel Quartier des Elites,
Cotonou-Benin Republic.
Tel; +229- 9772-93900.
Private E-Mail: frankcodumodu@yahoo.co.jp


Dear Friend,


I am Barrister Frank Odumodu, private attorney to Late Peter , a national of your country, who used to work as the Director of Soci&eacute;t&eacute; Nationale de Commercialisation des Produits P&eacute;troliers (SONACOP)Oil Company in Benin Republic West Africa, Here in after shall be Referred
to as my client. On the 21st of April 2002, my client, His wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident Cotonou-Abome express-road. All occupants of the vehicle Unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients
extended relatives but all efforts was just in vain. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track His last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his Family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in Repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank. These huge deposits were lodged particularly, with the "Soci&eacute;t&eacute; G&eacute;n&eacute;rale des Banques du Benin" where the Deceased had
an account valued at about $14.5 million dollars (fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated.

Since I have been unsuccessful in Locating the relatives for over six years. Now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have The same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at $14.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can
Share the money 50% to me and 50% to you. I will procure all Necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this Deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law or you can call me on this number +229- 9772-93900, if you need urgent information about this transaction.

And the way we are going to achieve this is I will need the following information from you, Your Full Name and Address, Your Age, Occupation and Position, Your Telephone Mobile and Fax Number for Communication Purpose.

I awaiting for your Call and reply ASAP Private E-Mail: frankcodumodu@yahoo.co.jp

Best Regards,
Barrister Frank Odumodu
Tel. +229- 9772-93900.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam