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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • atmpaymentoffice.unionbank@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:47:08 +0100
Subject: CONTACT UNION BANK ATM DEPARMENT NOW


=C2=A0Attn: My Dear Friend,
=C2=A0
I write to inform you that i have deposited your funds to UNION BANK PLC =
BENIN However,your funds has been arranged as an Atm Card they will deliv=
er it to your=C2=A0 home address once you send your contact information t=
o the bank, You know that=C2=A0 this transaction have taken so longer tha=
n expected and I think that the Atm CARD is the best and easier way you c=
an receive your funds $1.5.000.00 US Dollars.
=C2=A0
Contact the below person who is in position to release your Atm Card into=
your destination address within 48hours.
=C2=A0
Director General Rev Okoro Sunday, Foreign=20
Department UNION BANK PLC BENIN REPUBLIC Republic
Email; (atmpaymentoffice.unionbank@gmail.com)=20
Phone: (229) 93.91.39.60.
=C2=A0
You are require to foward the below informations to them to avoid deliver=
y your Atm Card to a wrong person.
=C2=A0
(1)Beneficiary name :.................................
(2)Your home address : .......................................
(3)Your age and occupation :....................................
(4)A copy of your passport : ........................................
(5)Your private cell/working number :..................................=20
=C2=A0
Please forward the following informations to them now in their email i ga=
ve to you and let me know when you do this and also when you receive your=
Atm Card in your home address, and also beneficiar will be responsible f=
or the delivery fee of the Atm Card so as to avoid any scam.Please make s=
ure you dont make any mistake with those information so that they will no=
t deliver your Atm Card to a wrong person,Am strongly beleive that God is=
in control.
=C2=A0
Good Luck.
Barrister Charles Williams

=C2=A0

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam