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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:
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22997223541 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • frank_kelly2000@inmail24.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • frank_kelly200124@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3bfrank_kelly200124@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "jamesobi7 Gazeta.pl" <jamesobi7@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 17:11:40 +0200
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT,,


Attn;My Dear,

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds
transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Panama.
Presently i'm in Panama 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 transferring those funds despite that it failed us some
how. Now contact my secretary in Benin with the below information

Name: Mr Frank Kelly
EMAIL;frank_kelly2000@inMail24.com
EMAIL;frank_kelly200124@yahoo.fr <EMAIL%3Bfrank_kelly200124@yahoo.fr>
CELLPHONE;+229-97223541

Ask him to send you the certified bank draft of $1.8M which i kept for
you as a 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 in touched with my secretary Mr Frank and instruct
him where to send the Draft to you.
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share
the joy after all the sufferness at that time. in the moment, Iam 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 in touch with Mr. Frank Kelly, he will send the draft to
you without any delay.

Regards,
Barr. James Obi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam