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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
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• 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:

• 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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  • +2347026386757
• 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.
  • steve_okon@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:45:12 +0530 (IST)
Subject: GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR EFFORT


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: senatorwalejh@yahoo.in



- Dear Friend, I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund 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 in assisting me in transferring the funds despite that it failed us some how. Now contact my secretary,his name is Mr Steve Okoli and his email is steve_okon@sify.com and you can as well call him on phone +2347026386757 and ask him to send you the Sum of ($500,000.00) CASHIER'S CHEQUE which I kept for your compensation for all your 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 Mr Steve Okoli and instruct him where to send the CASHIER'S CHEQUE to you. Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferness at that time. In the moment, I am ver!
y busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand.Finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to my secretary best regards Senator Wale Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam