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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:
  • "dear friend" (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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • edward_rawlings55@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "emmy_ben0_4 Gazeta.pl" <emmy_ben0_4@gazeta.pl>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:31:43 +0200
Subject: MAY GOD BLESS YOU


*DEAR FRIEND,*

*
I HOPE ALL IS WELL TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY,IF SO GLORY BE TO GOD
ALMIGHTY.I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS
TRANSFERED WITH THE COOPERATION OF A NEW PARTNER FROM NETHERLAND.*

*
WE WERE PAID FROM ECOBANK BENIN,COTONOU BENIN PUBLIC.PRESENTLY I'M IN
ETHERLAND 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 THIS FUNDS DESPITE WE COULD NOT CONCLUDE IT.*

*
I HAVE DECIDED TO COMPENSATE YOU.CONTACT MY ACCOUNT OFFICER IN ECOBANK
BENIN,HIS NAME IS REV.EDWARD RAWLINGS.ON HIS E-MAIL ADDRESS(**
edward_rawlings55@hotmail.fr* <edward_rawlings55@hotmail.fr>*) I HAVE RAISED
A CERTIFIECD BANK CHEQUE IN YOUR NAME TO THE TUNE OF $530.000.00 UNITED
STATES DOLLARS FOR YOU.*

*
FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH MY UNT OFFICE REV. EDWARD RAWLINGS. AND
INSTRUCT HIM ON WHERE TO SEND THE CHEQUE TO YOU AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE AS I
HAVE DONE ENOUGH BY ALLOCATING SUCH AMOUNT TO YOU.RIGHT NOW, I AM VERY BUSY
HERE BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT ROJECTS WHICH I AND THE NEW PARTNER ARE
HANDLING, SO EEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH REV.EDWARD RAWLINGS. HE WILL
INFORM ME IMMEDEATELY HE HAS OBLIDGED YOU THE FUND.BELOW IS THE INFORMATION
NEEDED:*


*NAME:....AGE........ADDRESS:......CCUPATION:......
PHONE:......COUNTRY:..........*


*Regards.
Thanks and Remain Blessed
MR.EMMY BEN

*

* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam