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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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • +22998080545 (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.
  • stephenpaul130@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Stephen Paul <stephenpaul130@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: stephenpaul10@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 06:17:01 -0800 (PST)
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: stephenpaul130@yahoo.com



- MY DEAR FRIEND,I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.I AM MR Stephen Paul, I WORK IN THE ECO-BANK COTONOU,BENIN REPUBLIC OF WEST AFRICA, AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT,I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON THROUGH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE ECO-BANK WHO SAID THAT I CAN CONFIDE IN YOU.I WANT YOU TO HELP ME CLEAR THIS BOX THAT IS ALREADY IN OVERSEAS WHICH I SHIPPED THROUGH OUR ECO-BANK ACCREDITED SECURITY COMPANY AGENT BUT THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX IS ($20,MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BELONGING TO OUR LATE CUSTOMER WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT IS MONEY THAT MY LATE CLIENT HAVE IN THE BOX. ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME NOW IS TO FORWARD TO ME THIS BELOW INFORMATION, YOUR CURRENT/PRIVATE MAILING ADDRESS YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBER AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY,YOU WILL HAVE 40% AND 60% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE RE!
VEALED TO ANYBODY.IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU, RECOMFIRM YOUR DELIVERY INFORMATION SUCH AS ,YOUR FULL NAME,YOUR HOME ADDRESS AND COUNTRY,YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER, AND AGE,E-MAIL ME AT ( stephenpaul@live.fr) FOR SECURITY REASONS. OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING YOU THE CONSIGMENT BOX CODE NUMBERS TO OPEN THEM.NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLY THROUGH E-MAIL OR PHONE FOR SECURITY REASONS.YOURS FAITHFULLY,MR Stephen Paul.E-MAIL( stephenpaul@live.fr)Phone:+229-9808-0545.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam