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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:

• 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:
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "tax clearance" (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. )
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
• 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.
  • atmdepartmentcenter88@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:04:18 +0100
Subject: Dear Good Friend,


Dear Good Friend,


I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Dr=
aft but did not heard from you since that time then I went and deposited =
the Draft Bank Of Africa PLC here in Benin Republic, because I travelled =
to Japan to see my boss and will not come back till next next year. I hav=
e arranged with them to make your payment to you with their new ATM MASTE=
R CARD CREDIT OF $7.5million U.S dollars which you can use to withdraw yo=
ur money in any ATM MACHINE any where in the World. You have to contact t=
he International Bank Plc with your full contact informations such as fol=
lows.

=C2=A0

1. FULL NAME...........................
2. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
3 PHONE /CELL PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION/ If any available

=C2=A0

However, Kindly contact the Director who is in position to release YOUR A=
TM CARD.


REV DR.MAKINWA NTEPE,
DIRECTOR,=20
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT,
BANK OF AFRICA PLC,
MOBILE:+22993992575.
EMAIL ADDRESS: atmdepartmentcenter88@hotmail.com


I have paid for the processing and delivery charges.The only Money that y=
our are going to pay to them is only $156 Dollars which they will use to =
obtain the Non-Residential Tax Clearance Of your Fund Onwership from the =
Federal High Court Of Benin Republic. So Try to contact them and ask them=
how you will send the $156 to receive your atm card,urgently contact the=
m as soon as possible to quicking the processing of your card before your=
Card stipulated time required for withdrawal gets Expired . Let me know =
as soon as you receive your Atm Card of $7.5million U.S dollras.


Thanks
Jennifer Adams.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam