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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "million 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)
  • "cheque " (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +2348051215862 (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.
  • francophux@latinmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "PAUL BLAZER" <rextime@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 07:53:12 +0000
Subject: IS THREE YEAR NOW; HOPED YOU REMEMBER ME?

FROM PAUL BLAZER.
TO MY DEAREST FRIEND,

HAPPY NEW YEAR, WITH GREAT GRATITUDE TO YOUR EFFORTS; I AM INFORMING
YOU THAT I HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFERRING THE MONEY TO AN ITALIAN
BANK, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PARAGUAY FRIEND, WHOM BASED ON
AGREEMENT, RECEIVED 25% OF THE ENTIRE MONEY FOR HIS FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT
AND
EFFORTS.

PRESENTLY I HAVE RELOCATED TO SOUTH KOREA, TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRONIC
COMPANY PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE AS I HAVE EARLIER PROPOSED.
NEVERTHELESS, I CANNOT FORGET YOU, ESPECIALLY YOUR HONEST EFFORTS,
THOUGH IT DID NOT YIELD POSITIVE FRUIT, BUT I STILL APPRECIATE IT, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MEANWHILE I HAVE A SURPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOU.

I NEED YOU TO CONTACT MY THEN ASSISTANT IN AFRICA HIS NAME IS FRANK
CHIDI ON HIS NUMBER: 234-805-121-5862 OR EMAIL HIM AT:
francophux@latinmail.com
I HAVE INSTRUCTED HIM TO COLLECT BANK CASHER’S CHEQUE OR BANK DRAFT
FROM MY BANK ON YOUR BEHALF, THE CHEQUE/ DRAFT WOULD BE RAISED WITH ANY
NAME CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO CASH THE CHEQUE, THE VALUE OF THE CHEQUE YOU
WOULD RECEIVE IS ELEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, PLEASE DO NOT
THANK ME, YOU DESERVE EVEN MORE. PLEASE ACCEPT IT IN GOOD FAITH AS A
COMPENSATION PACKAGE, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID AND I PRAY THAT WE
WOULD MEET ONE DAY.

RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO LIE LOW FOR SOME TIME, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, SO
FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH FRANK, PLEASE MY FRIEND AS SOON AS YOU
RECEIVE THE ELEVEN MILLION DO LIKEWISE FOR SOME TIME AND ENJOY THE FRUIT
OF YOUR LABOR.

I REMAIN YOUR BOSOM FRIEND,

PAUL BLAZER.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam