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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
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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin is no Federal Republic, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "inheritance funds" (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. 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.
• 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.
  • mnuba_alice@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: kuma sherif <k_sherif25@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 05:06:54 +0000
Subject: CONTACT HER NOW



Dear Friend,Sorry for any inconveniences. Well, I just want to use this medium tothank you very much for your earlier assistance to help me inreceiving the inheritance funds, without any positive outcome. I amobliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the fundswith the help of a new partner from Chile.Contact my secretary inCotonouDefederal Republic of Benin .because I have left the whole instruction to him onyour behalf and instruct him where to send the $550.000.00 with outany further delay for your compensation.Her name is MRS MNUBA ALICE Email ( mnuba_alice@yahoo.fr )NB:NOTE :BELLOW IS THE REQUIRED INFORMATIONS YOU WILL SEND TO MYSECRETARY(1) YOUR FULL NAMES(2) YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS(3) YOUR DIRECTCELPHONE NUMBER AND HOUSE PHONE WITH FAX IF ANY .In this moment, I'm very busy here in Chile because of the investmentprojects, which the new partner and I are having at hand. So feelfree to get in touch with MRS MNUBA ALICE to send the cheque to youwithoutany delay. EMAIL ADDRESS ( mnuba_alice@yahoo.fr )Regards
Mr. Kuma Sherif

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam