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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • howell.williamr@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jeffpeters1@fastwebmail.it
Reply-To: jeff.cbn@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:38:07 -0700
Subject: PLEASE YOUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CREDITED


Dear Beneficiary,


With all due respect, I am writing to you in regards of your over
payment you made during the processes of receiving your over
due contract payment from Central Bank Of Nigeria and offshore payment
center.

The panel of inquiry have mandated us to return USD$8,500 to you which has
been already wired back to you through western union money
transfer, Here is the Control number (MTCN -3577962011 ) the
question is (Return and Answer is you).

You are advised to go to western union money transfer office to
pick-up your return of $8,500 (eight thousand five hundred US dollars) with
this control number, test question and answer
above and advice to stop any further payment to any person or office
until you receive this money from your over payment.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Mr.Howell R. William
EMAIL: howell.williamr@yahoo.com

WARNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU HAVE TO PICK UP THE WESTERN UNION BEFORE 5 WORKING DAYS OR THE
TRANSACTION WILL BE CANCELED, PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY.ONCE
YOU RECEIVE THIS MASSAGE.

Regards,
Howell R. william.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam