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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • dennis_blessbrown_9@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Aka James" <billmail@purcell.biz>
Reply-To: dennis_blessbrown_9@myway.com
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:10:46 +0100
Subject: Urgent contact My Account Officer in African Development Bank PLC Cotonou Benin Republic.




My Dear Good Friend,

How are you? It is a pleasure to let you know about my success in getting
those fund transffered under the cooperation of a new partner from Greece.
I didn't forget your past efforts to assit me in transffering those funds.

Now contact My Account Officer in African Development Bank PLC Cotonou Benin
Republic. Mr Dennis Brown. Send him your full name, mailing address and
your contact telephone number for a direct communication with him.

CONTACT: Mr Dennis Brown.
Account Officer,
Cotonou, Benin Republic,
His email address: [ dennis_blessbrown_9@myway.com ]

Ask him to send you the total $1,200,000.00 certified bank draft which is
raised for your compensation. I did this simply to show you that it is good
to do good things to the right people. So feel free and get intouched with
him.

Let me know immediately you receive itfor us to share the joy. I'm very
busy here with investment projects which i am having at hand.
Finally,i left instruction to Mr Dennis Brown, on your behalf, so feel free
to get intouch with him.
Best regards,

Dr.Aka James.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam