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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.

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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:
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +22995806148 (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.
  • williamyakubu@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "martin peters" <martinptrs1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:15:25 +0100
Subject: My Good Friend, CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN BENIN REPUBLIC FOR YOUR COMPENSATION.


*My Good Friend, *

*I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the funds transferred
under the cooperation of a new partner from paraguay.

Presently I'm in Paraguay for investment projects,I did not forget your past
efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring of the funds.

Now contact my secretary in Cotonou Republic of Benin, his name is Mr.
WILLIAM YAKUBU,through this e-mail address
(**williamyakubu@yahoo.com*<williamyakubu@yahoo.com>
*) or call him on +229 9580 6148 and ask him to send you the total sum of
$950,000.00 which i kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and
attempts to assist me.

I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get
intouch with my secretary Mr. WILLIAM YAKUBU direct him where to send the
amount to you.

Remember that I have Given instruction to my secretary on your behalf to
receive that money, so feel free to get intouch with him Mr.WILLIAM YAKUBU,
he will send the amount to you in cheque without any delay.

Regards,

Mr.MARTIN PETERS *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam