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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • andrew_mathin@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: gorgewilliams8899@gala.net
Reply-To: andrew_mathin@hotmail.fr
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 17:01:36 -0700
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY


DEAR FRIEND,


I DIDN'T FORGOT YOUR PAST EFFORT BY TRYING TO HELP ME. CONTACT MY SECRETARY
IN COTONOU DE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.I HAVE LEFT A CHECK OF
USD$800.000.FOR YOUR COMPENSATION.
HIS NAME IS Mr, ANDREW MATHIN
EMAIL: andrew_mathin@hotmail.fr
PHONE:(+229)97296703
FAX (00229)76 464 287
NB: NOTE: BELLOW IS THE REQUIRED INFORMATIONS YOU WILL SEND TO MY SECRETARY:


(1) YOUR FULL NAMES :...
(2) YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS :..
(3) YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBE WITH FAX IF ANY.

REGARDS
MR.Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam