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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • alfred_mbengani@plasa.com
  • alfred22mbengani@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "ALFRED MBENGANI" <alfred119@walla.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: alfred1mbengani@terra.com.mx
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2006 17:40:38 +0000
Subject: Urgent attention

Dear Sir/Madam,
How are you today? It is my pleasure to write to you this day, I came across your email address, through surfing the internet, my name is Alfred Mbengani, I am a 35yrs old single father of three children, I work with a Bank here in Dakar Senegal as the Managing Director in Senegal. I have a business package which I am proposing to you, this is based on trust and confidence, and you are entitled to accept or reject it.
It is my duty to send the annual report of the branch's income to the head of administration in Dakar, last year I discovered there is a left over sum of two million dollars (USD$2,000,000.00) in an escrow account in my branch, and this funds is not made known to the head of departments, and it has simply been forgotten, this funds will be beneficial if we can work together and have this head office transfer it to your account, as the legal owner of this funds, I recommend your interest in this proposal, as the Person in control of this branch.
I am not suppose to get involve with this affair, but I will act as the insider, to make sure that this is successfully carried out, if you are interested in this business proposal, the funds will be shared sincerely 50% for each party involved. as the begining of the year, and for sure a new report will be sent to the head of department, this makes this business and urgent task, if you are interested and you find the capabilities to transact this business, please send me an urgent message, or quickly contact me. alfred_mbengani@plasa.com or alfred22mbengani@netscape.net
I look forward to hearing from you, and hope we have a mutual business partnership.
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Alfred Mbengani

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam