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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • howerobert90@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jimpeters32@freenet.de
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:01:40 +0100
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR PAST EFFORT


Dear Friend,
Compliment of the season my freind i have successfuly get
the money which fail us some how before. It is my pleasure to reach you
after our unsuccessful attempt on our business transaction. Well, I just
want to use this medium of time to thank you very much for your earlier
assistance to help me in receiving
the funds.
I am obliged to inform you
that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with the help of a new
partner from London Mr. Chris Rayner. Everything was perfectly done on
last three weeks friday because we strike a deal with one Lady
Accountant who works with the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), and she
rendered a tremendous help to us. My new partner initiated this idea and
everything worked out successfully.
In appreciation of your earlier
assistance to me in receiving the funds, I have decided to compensate
you with the total sum of one million two hundred thousand
USD($1.200,000.00 usd) in a certified international Cashier\'s
cheque.
Do send him the reqires information\'s:
1,YOUR FULL
NAME........................
2,YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS.............
3,YOUR
PRIVATE PHONE
NUMBER..........
4,OCCUPATION....................
6,SEX...............
7,COUNTRY...............
This
is from my own share. I did this simply to show appreciation to you for
your kind support and assistance even though we couldn\'t succeed due to
some unforseen circumstances. Presently, I am in South Korea for
investment with my own share under the advice of my partner. In the
light of the above, you are therefore to contact my personal secretary
in Cotonou Benin Republic his name is Mr. Howe Robert and do send him
your contact address where you want the cheque to be sent to you,reach
his private E -mail address (howerobert90@yahoo.fr ) so feel free to
get in touch with him to send the cheque to you without any delay. And
also call him as soon as you receive this message in other to attend to
you immediately
With my best regards,
Dr Jim Peter

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam