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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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. 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • henryja001@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr.Angus Mbeki. <angusmbeki76@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: henryja001@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:58:37 -0700
Subject: THIS IS FOR YOUR COMPENSATION PLZ GET BACK TO ME


Dear friend.
Due to my tight schedules I could not contact you earlier before now. I am =
very happy to inform you about my success in getting that money under the =
cooperation of a new partner from Asia. Presently I'm in China,with the new =
partner for some projects and some research in Poultary farms here with my =
share. Meanwhile,I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me =
in that process despite the facts that it failed us at that time along the =
line,Now contact my lawyer in Cotonou,Benin Republic,his name is =
Barrister.Henry Jalingo henryja001@yahoo.com and ask him to send you the =
total sum of (usd850.000.00) in International cashier's Cheque which i kept =
for your "COMPENSATION" for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in =
that matter then. I appreciated all your efforts at that time very much.So =
feel free and get in touch with him and discuss with him the best way for you =
to get it.
Please do let me know immediately you receive it. At the moment,I am very =
busy here because of the projects which my new partner and I are having at =
hand. Finally, remember that i have left instructions on your behalf, so feel =
free to reach him immediately.
Please extend my greetings to your family and once am less free and after my =
medical check up i will try to visit your family.
Yours faithfully.
Dr.Angus Mbeki.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam