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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:
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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:
  • "million united states 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • benkoffi2010@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "barrjames1" <barrjames1@terra.com.mx>
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 17:42:05 -0600
Subject: THANKS


>From Barrister James Chijoke

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

WITH GREAT GRATITUDE TO YOUR EFFORTS, I AM INFORMING YOU THAT I HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFERRING THE FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO THE BANK IN ITALY, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PARAGUAY FRIEND, WHOM BASED ON AGREEMENT RECEIVED 25% OF THE ENTIRE MONEY FOR HIS FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT AND EFFORTS.
PRESENTLY I HAVE RELOCATED TO SOUTH KOREA, TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRONIC COMPANY PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE AS I HAVE EARLIER PROPOSED. NEVERTHELESS, I CANNOT FORGET YOU, ESPECIALLY YOUR HONEST EFFORTS, THOUGH IT DID NOT YIELD POSITIVE FRUIT, BUT I STILL APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEANWHILE I HAVE A SURPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOU.

CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN AFRICA HIS NAME IS BENSON KOFFI AND HIS EMAIL ADDRESS: benkoffi2010@yahoo.fr I HAVE INSTRUCTED HIM TO DIRECT YOU ON HOW YOU WOULD RECEIVE THE SUM OF ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS IN CHEQUE, WHICH I SET OUT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION, PLEASE I WANT YOU TO ACCEPT IT IN GOOD FAITH. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD MEET SOMEDAY, BUT RIGHT NOW I TOO BUSY FOR SOME TIME, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, SO FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH MR BENSON KOFFI.

I REMAIN YOUR BOSOM FRIEND,

BEST REGARDS,
BARRISTER JAMES CHIJIOKE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam