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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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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)
• 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.
  • maxrohdes@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "johnphilips75" <johnphilips75@terra.com.mx>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 00:02:44 -0600
Subject: You will be glad to hear this good news from me.


Dear Friend,
Longest time, how are you?
I'm exceedly glad to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from switzerland,
Presently I’m in switzerland for investment, with my own share of the total money. meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts in helping to get the fund retrive and transfer into your bank account then but it failed us some how.
.
Now you can contact my secretary in benin republic cotonou, his name is maxwell rohdes e-mail; maxrohdes@myway.com tell him to send you the cheque written in your name,the amount is total sum of ($1.250m) one million two hundred and fifty thousand UNITED STATES DOLLARS, which I drafted in your name as a compensation,
for all your efforts then in attempts to asissit me.I real appreciate your effort at that very time. So feel free and get in touch with him, also send your informations to him where he can send you the draft.
do let me know immediately you receive the cheque and cashed the money so that we can share the happiness together, after all the stress we pass through then was much, at moment, I’m very busy here in switzerland, because of the investment projects we are having at moment,
finally remember to give your othentic informations to the secretary to enable him send the draft successful to you.
Best regards
Eng.John C.PHILIP

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam