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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:
  • "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)
  • "certified bank draft" (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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993863050 (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.
  • dr.peter_sam2001@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE FILE" <officefile250@btconnect.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:46:49 -0000
Subject: Urgent Response

HELLO MY DEAR,

On behalf of me and my family we wish to saw you our most appreciation for your prevouse endeavours, efforts and attempt for helping me in transfering those funds despite that it all failed us somehow.It my pleasure to inform you now that i have succeeded getting those funds transffered under the cooperation of a new partner from paraguay.

Presently i'm in paraguay for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. meanwhile,i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transffering those not withstanding the failure.

Now contact my secretary in BENIN REPUBLIC his name is DR.PETER SAM, On his email address (Dr.peter_sam2001@Sify.com) Phone number: +229 93 86 3050. Ask him to send you the total sum of $1.500.000.00 (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ) certified bank draft which i raised in your favour for the compensation of all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.we appreciated your efforts at that time soo much.

So feel free and get intouched with my secretary DR.PETER SAM and give him your address where to send the draft to you. Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferness at that time.At the moment, i'm very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand, Note that i had forwarded instruction to the secretary on your behalf to send you the BANK DRAFT as soon as you contacts him

I told him that you are going to contact him with a code which is (8081) to enable him identify you. So you should use this code (8081) as your subject when contacting him, It will make him identify you as the owner of the $1.500.000.00 certified bank draft i kept in his custody for your compesation, Once agin thank you very much for all your past efforts and endeavours.
best regards,
HON,FRANK DAVID

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam