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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • peter_frank1200@yahoo.com.mx

Fraud email example:

From: "OBI FRED" <barrister.obifred31@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:06:42 +0100
Subject: GET IN TOUCHED WITH MY SECRETARY


GOODDAY!!!,
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY I HOPE FINE? ONCE AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU
ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERRED UNDER THE COOPERATION OF
A NEW PARTNER FROM QATAR.PRESENTLY I'M IN QATAR FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS WITH
MY OWN SHARE OF THE TOTAL SUM. MEANWHILE,I DIDN'T FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORTS
AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN TRANSFERRING THOSE FUNDS DESPITE THAT IT FAILED
US SOME HOW.NOW
CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN BENIN.
NAME /MR.PETER FRANK.
EMAIL/ ( peter_frank1200@yahoo.com.mx )
LEGAL PRACTITIONER & PUBLIC NOTARY
REPRESENTATIVE,
SUITE 205 MDOMI PLAZA,
AKPAKPA COTONOU BENIN.

ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL OF $1.2 MILLION WHICH I KEPT FOR YOUR
COMPENSATION FOR ALL THE PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN THIS
MATTER. I APPRECIATED YOUR EFFORTS AT THAT TIME VERY MUCH. SO FEEL FREE AND
GET IN TOUCHED WITH MY SECRETARY MR.PETER FRANK, AND INSTRUCT HIM 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 SUFFERNESS AT THAT TIME. IN THE MOMENT, 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 THE SECRETARY
ON YOUR BEHALF TO RECEIVE THAT MONEY, SO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
MR.PETER FRANK, HIM WILL SEND THE AMOUNT TO YOU WITHOUT ANY DELAY.
BEST REGARDS,
BARRISTER OBI FRED.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam