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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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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million us dollars" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "mathew" <mathewpeter1@centrum.sk>
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:22:57 +0200
Subject: HELLO!!!!


DEAREST FRIEND,
I AM MR MATHEW PETER AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERRED. NOW I WANT YOU TO CONTACT MY SECRETARY ON THE INFORMATION BELOW AND RECEIVE YOUR COMPENSATION OF $1.5 MILLION US DOLLARS FROM HIM.
NAME....: Jim Henry
EMAIL: ( jim.henry50@live.fr)
SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO PROVE YOURSELF TO HIM:
YOUR FULL NAME;...............................
YOUR ADDRESS:.................................
YOUR COUNTRY:.................................
YOUR AGE:.........................................
YOUR OCCUPATION:.................................
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:.............................
NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HIM THE ABOVE INFORMATION COMPLETE, HE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHEQUE TO YOU BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE SURE THAT IT IS YOU.ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL SUM OF $1.5 MILLION US DOLLARS CASHIER'S CHEQUE, WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU.
NOTE ALSO THAT I WILL NOT BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE FOR NOW BECAUSE I  AM CURRENTLY AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE IN BRAZIL WITH MY SHARE AND I WILL BE BUSY TILL ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME OR A YEAR.
 
NAME  Jim Henry
EMAIL (jim.henry50@live.fr)
REGARDS
MR MATHEW PETER

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam