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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348059395433 (Nigeria, 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.
  • graceegobia@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN MARTINS" <john_imartins@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: john_martins2004@myway.com
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2006 10:08:00 +0000
Subject: YOUR COMPENSATION FUND

FORM: GAYUS OBA (RTD)
FORMER DIRECTOR
N.N.PC.


ATTN: Dear Friend,

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred
under the cooperation of a new partner from Paraguay.

Presently I'm out of my country for investment projects with my own share of
the total sum of the money. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and
attempts to assist me in transfer of those funds despite that it failed us
somehow. I remembered your assistance towards the transaction, although it
did not favour us. I decided to compensate you with some money. Please don't
bother to speak with me for I'm trying to clear the ground before I will
speak to you.

Now contact my secretary, who is now in NIGERIA with the following
information:-

NAME:.......MIS. GRACE EGOBIA
TEL:...........+2348059395433

E-MAIL:.....:graceegobia@myway.com

Ask her to send you the total sum of $800.000.00 Us dollars which I kept for
your compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
thes matter. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much, so
feel free to get in touch with my secretary MIS. GRACE EGOBIA and instruct
her where to send the amount to you.

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can sharethe joy
after all the sufferings at that time, in the moment, I'm very busy here
because of the investment projects which I and the new partner are having at
hand, remember that I had forwarded instruction to my secretary on your
behalf to receive the money, so feel free to get in touch with MIS. GRACE
EGOBIA. Give her instruction on where you want the money to be sent to you.
Finally, you may not be familier with my name don't bother yourself about
the name. When you receive the money I will get back to you with more better
information that will make u know me more.

With best regards,

GAYUS OBA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam