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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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • martins_osah@mac.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: officemail200@mixmail.com
Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2006 12:00:58 +0000
Subject: Good news





Dear Friend

Longest time,I hope all is well together with your family,if so glory be to God almighty.Well,Sorry to hear this news and please understand that the fault is not from me.I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transfered with the cooperation of a new partner from paraguay.we were paid from african development bank in cotonou, benin republic.

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 transferring this funds despite we could not conclude it.I have decided to compensate you.

contact my account officer in bank in cotonou,Benin Republic,his name is Mr martins osah on his e-mail address stated below (martins_osah@mac.com) .I have instructed him to pay out one million,two hundred thousand united states dollars in your favour as your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in the transaction.
I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. so feel free and get in touched with my account officer Mr martins osah and instruct him on where to send the draft or wire transfer to you.I’m very busy here because of the investment projects which I and the new partner are handling, finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to my account officer on your behalf.So feel free to get in touch with Mr martins osah.he will inform me immidiately he has oblidged you the fund.

Best Regards,
Peter Obi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam