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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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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • frankly_obi@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "fidelis okafor" <fidelisokafor38@ig.com.br>
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:13:19 +0100
Subject: Dear friend,


Dear friend,

Hope this mail find you in an excellent condition of health.I'm happy to
inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the
co-operation of a new partner from Paraguay,

Presently I'm in LONDON for investment projects with my own share of the
total sum.

Meanwhile i didn't forget you're past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how.

Now contact my secretary in Nigeria his name is Mr Franky Obi and his
email address is ( frankly_obi@yahoo.com) ask him to send you the total
$2,000,00000 which I kept for your compensation for all your past efforts
and attempts to
assist me in this matter.

I appreciated your efforts at that time very much .so feel free and get
intouch with my secretary Mr Franky Obi and instruct he where to send the
amount to you.

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share
the joy after all the sufferings at that time. I'm very busy here because
of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at
hand,finally,

remember that I had forwarded instruction to My secretary on your behalf
to receive those moneys feel free to get in touch with Mr Franky Obi he
will send the amount to you without any delay.

With best regards,

Barrister Fidelis Okafor

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam