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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.

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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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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 company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.

Fraud email example:

From: "WESSEL JR ROLAND" <rolandwessel_jr@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: roland_wesseljr@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2006 15:25:46 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS COLLABORATION

STAR ENERGY CORPORATION
STAR PLAZA BLDG.7th Flr #5-9
Route De Abomey - Calavi
Godomey Cotonou,
Republique du Benin.

Greetings dear friend,

It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter,which I believe will be a
surprise to you as we have never met before,and I am deeply sorry if I have
in any manner disturbed your privacy.please forgive this unusual manner of
contacting you, but this particular letter is of exceptional and very
private nature. there is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust
in your heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that so many
individuals have taken possession of the Internet to facilitate their
dubious
deeds,thereby making it extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate
business class persons to get attention and recognition. There is no way for
me to know whether I will be properly understood, but it is my duty to write
and reach out to you.

I am Mr Roland Wessel branch manager of STAR ENERGY CORPORATION,we are OPEC
members who deal on crude oil and raw material and export into the
Canada/America and Europe.I will want to solicit for your assistance to help
collect a cheque that is due for payment to me for services and supplies I
rendered.

Please if you are willing to assist, I will want you to furnish me with your
particulars, so as to enable me give you further details.

Please,you have to be an honest and trusted person,as more payments will be
made through you in the course of this transaction.And moreso you will be
entitled to 10% of every payment that you are able to recieve for us from
our customers.Please contact us for more information via email with the
above Informations filled out.

warmest regards
Mr Roland Wessel jr,
Tel/Fax:009-229-95408570

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam