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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)
  • "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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993488281 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • edward_z001@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jimpeters29@freenet.de
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:26:23 +0100
Subject: Contact My Secretary For Your US$1.5m Cashier Cheque.


Dear Friend,
It is my pleasure to reach you after our unsuccessful
attempt on our business transaction. Well, I just want to use this
medium 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 South America
Mr. Alfredo Gomez Castillo. Everything was perfectly done because we
strike a deal with one of the 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 sum of US$1,500,000.00
(One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in a
Cashier\'s Draft.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.Edward Zoro
and do send him your contact address where you want the draft to be sent
to you, his Information is as Follow:
Name:Mr.Edward Zoro.
E-mail
Address ( edward_z001@yahoo.fr )
Phone: +229-934-882-81.
Below are what
you are to send to him to enable him send the cheque to you without
delay :
1).Your Full Name:
2).Your House Address:
3).Your Sex and
age
4).Your Cell Number :
So feel free to get in touch with him to send
the Draft to you without any delay.
With my best regards,
Mr.Jim
Peter.

Unbegrenzter Speicher, Top-Spamschutz, 120 SMS und eigene
E-MailDomain
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http://office.freenet.de/dienste/emailoffice/produktuebersicht/power/mail/index.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam