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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "PAUL IGWE" <pauligwe12@ig.com.br>
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 13:23:21 +0100
Subject: Contact My Secretary Mr DESMOND MIKE


*Dear Friend,*

*I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred
under the co-operation of a new partner from Paraguay. Presently i'm in
Paraguay 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 the facts that it failed us some how. Now
contact my secretary, Desmond mike via email address
(**des_mike675@live.fr*<des_mike675@live.fr>
*) or, ask him to send you the total $950.000.00USD 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 kindly get in
touched with my secretary 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. At the moment, I am very busy
here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner have 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 him and
he will send the amount to you without any delay. You are required to
furnish him with the below information to enable him deliver the cheque to
you.*

*1. FULL NAMES:_________
2. ADDRESS:__________
3. SEX:_____________
4. AGE:_______
5. MARITAL STATUS:_______________
6. OCCUPATION:______
7. E-MAIL ADDRESS:_________
8. TELEPHONE NUMBER:_______
9. FAX: NUMBER_______*


*Yours Faithfully
Doctor Paul Igwe *

**

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam