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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • +22997043807 (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.
  • dhlcourier77@ubbi.com
  • nom.nom@laposte.net

Fraud email example:

From: "m.johnson5" <m.johnson5@laposte.net>
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:26:12 +0100 (CET)
Subject: ATTEN DEAR FRIEND,


ATTEN DEAR FRIEND,

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of $1.200.000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went to the bank to confirm if the draft has expired and Mr. Justin Yayi the Director Bank of Africa told me that before the draft will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told him to cash the $1.200.000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losing this funds under expiration as I will be out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back till end of Juny 2008.

What you have to do now is to contact the DHL COURIER COMPANY as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date.For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country.

The only money you will send to the DHL Courier Company to deliver your Consignment direct to your postal Address in your country is ($150.00 US) One Hundred & fifty United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $150.00 US Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.

You have to contact the DHL COURIER COMPANY with information bellow;
Contact Person: MR FRED WATER
Email Address:(dhlCOURIER77@ubbi.com)
Tel/FAX:+229 97043807.

SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO PROVE YOURSELF TO HIM: (1)FULL NAME (2) FULL ADDRESS (3)COUNTRY (4 )AGE (5) OCCUPATION (6) PHONE NUMBER.

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your address.

Yours Faithfully,
DR.MOLA JOHNSON

Créez votre adresse électronique prénom.nom@laposte.net
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam