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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22993413717 (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.
  • info_royal_e_c_d_c_beninrepublic@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: hilljohn012@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:03:41 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONTACT=20ROYAL=20COURIER=20COMPANY=20FOR=20THE=20DELIVERY=20OF=20YOUR=20=24950=2C000=2E00=20BANK=20DRAFT?=

(JOHN & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
25A HIGH LEVEL AVENUE OKOKO
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

My dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick up your $950,000.00
Bank Draft but I did not heard from you since that time.Then I went and
deposited the Draft with Courier Security Company here in Benin Republic,
because I travelled to Iraq to see my boss and will not come back till next
month end. I want You to contact the Courier Company to know when they will
deliver your package.I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance
fee.The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee
which is $96.00 Us Dollars to received your package don't be deceived by
any body This is there
Contact Address Mr.Arnold Robert.
Director of the courier delivery company Benin Republic.
E-mail:(info_royal_e_c_d_c_beninrepublic@yahoo.fr)
Phone number +229-93413717.

Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the
security keeping fee and also give them your contact delivering address
to avoid any mistake on the delivering. Let me know immediately you receive
your Draft.

Thanks.
Barr.Hill John




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam