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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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 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.
  • blessingmike1@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Kenneth Lien" <kennethlien8@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:26:32 +0200
Subject: THANK FOR YOUR PAST EFFORT THEN.


Dear Friend,

Longest time,I hope all is well together with your family,if so glory be to
God almighty.

Well,Sorry to hear this news and understand that the fault is not from
me.I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds
transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from paraguay.Presently
I'm in Paraguay 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 that it failed us some how. Now contact my
secretary in Benin her name is BLESSING MIKE on her e-mail address (
blessingmike1@yahoo.fr) Ask her to send you the total Amount of
$1,200,000.00 u.s dollars which I kept for your 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
touch with my secretary and instruct her where to send the cheque as you
know it was issued in a certfied bank draft which you will cash in any bank
approved or owned by government of any country.

Please do let me know immediately if you cash the money so that we can share
the joy togather after all the sufferness at that time.
Right now,I am very busy here because of the investment projects which me
and the new partner are having at hand.

Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the secretary on your
behalf to send the draft cheque to you immediately, so feel free to get in
touch with BLESSING, she will send the money immediately to you without any
delay.

Thank you and congratulations as God has done it for me.

Best Regards,
Dr.Kenneth Lien.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam