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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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)
  • "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.
  • henry_martins208@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "alhaji_umaru5 Gazeta.pl" <alhaji_umaru5@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2008 20:58:09 +0200
Subject: contact my personal secretary


My Dear Friend,

How are you today?It' has been long I heard from you,Well, I just want to
use this medium to thank you very much for your earlier assistance to help
me in receiving the funds without any negative outcome, I am obliged to
inform you that I have succeeded in transfering the funds with the help of a
new partner from Osaka Japan,

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 $1,500.000.00 (One Million
Five Houndren Thousand US Dollars)And i made it as international bank draft
cheque for the security reason This is from my own share of the total sum.I
did this simply to show you that it is good to do good things to the right
people always, Presently I am in Japan for investment project with my own
share under the advice of my partner,

Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how, I will be
sending you e-mail from time to time to know if you have received your share
or not, Now contact my personal secretary in Cotonou Benin Republic. His
contact Name is Mr Henry Martins Email:(henry_martins208@yahoo.fr)

please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the
joy together after all the sufferings at that very time, In the moment,I am
very busy here in Japan because of the investment projects which the new
partner and I are having at hand, So feel free to get intouch with Mr Henry
Martins so that he will send the international bank draft cheque to you
without any further delay,

My Best Regards,
Mr Alhaji Umaru,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam