419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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.
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.
- richarddike00@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:04:55 +0200
Subject:
=?iso-8859-1?Q?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 which did not work then.
Now contact my secretary in Republic of Benin for your compensation,his name is Mr. RICHARD DIKE,through this e-mail address(richarddike00@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,Therefore feel free and get intouched with my secretary Mr. RICHARD DIKE and instruct 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. RICHARD DIKE he will send the amount to you in check.
Regards,
Mr.MARTIN PETERS.

---------------------- ALICE N°1 de la RELATION CLIENT 2008*--------------------
Découvrez vite l'offre exclusive ALICE BOX! En cliquant ici http://abonnement.aliceadsl.fr Offre soumise à conditions.*Source : TNS SOFRES / BEARING POINT. Secteur Fournisseur d.Accès Internet

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam