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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)
  • "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • bright_wenger001@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "otisco_ben" <otisco_ben@terra.com.mx>
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 02:31:16 -0600
Subject: CONTACT HIM FOR YOUR $850,000,000.


my dear friend
How are you today?
It's been long I heard from you. Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you very much for yourearlier assistance to help me in receiving the funds,without any positive outcome. I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with the help of a new partner from Paraguay. Everythingwas perfectly done because we strike a deal with one of the Lady accountant who works with the FederalMinistry of Finance (FMF) and she rendered a tremendous help to us. My new partner initiated thisidea and everything worked out successfully.In appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the Funds.

I have decided to compensate you with the sum of $850,000 in a Cashier's cheque (Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand United States Dollars). This is from my own share. I did this simply to show you that itis good to do good things to the right people always.then all i want to do is give him your full information so it will be enable him deliver your parcel state below;
Your full name...........Your country............
Home address...........Occupation.............
Office number..........Phone number..............
Age.......................Sex................
*Presently, I am in Paraguay for investment project with my own share under the advice of my partner.Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds,despite that it failed us somehow. I will be sending you e-mail from time to time to know if you havereceived your share or not. Now contact my personal assistant in Benin Mr Bright Wenger,
his e-mail address is

(bright_wenger001@myway.com) . Please do let me know immediately if you receive it so thatwe can share the joy together after all the suffering at that time. In the moment, I am very busy here in,Paraguay because of the investment projects, which the new partner and I are having at hand. So feel free toget in touch with young Bright Wenger to send the cheque toyou without any delay.

With My Best Regards,
Otisco Ben.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam