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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "certified bank draft" (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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • chizoba_godwin2007@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "bello umaru" <bumaru_2006@rediffmail.com>
Date: 11 Jun 2007 09:25:11 -0000
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY


My dear Friend ,&nbsp;I\'m happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transffered under the cooperation of a new partner from Poland. Presently i\'m in Poland for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.meanwhile,i didn\'t forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transffering those funds despite that it failed us somehow.&nbsp;Now contact my secretary in BENIN his name is CHIZOBA GODWIN,his email;(chizoba_godwin2007@yahoo.fr) ask him to send you the total $800.000.00 (EIGTH HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS)certified bank draft which i raised in your favour for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. i appreciated your efforts at that time very much.so feel free and get intouched with my secretary CHIZOBA GODWIN and give him your address where to send the draft to you.&nbsp;Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferness at that time.in t!
he moment, i\'m very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand, finally,remember that i had forwarded instruction to the secretary on your behalf to receive that money, so feel free to get intouch with CHIZOBA without any delay.
&nbsp;best regards,
&nbsp;BARRISTER UMARU BELLO
CONTACT MY SECRETARY&nbsp;

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam