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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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: jimpeters@freenet.de
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:38:45 +0200
Subject: CONTACT EFEX EXPRESS COMPANY




Dear friend,
I want to inform you that the fee for your Cheque Draft
has been Paid on January 2008. because i went to the Eco bank that
issued the cheque to comfirm if the cheque has expired and the manager
of EcoBank Benin told me that before the check will get to you it will
expire. So i told him to cash the $1200.000.00, all the necessary
arrangement of delivering of the $1200.000.00 in cash was made with EFEX
EXPRESS COMPANY WORLD WIDE.Here is the contact of the fedex Company
World Wide bellow.

ATTN: Mr HARRY
DOMINIC.
EMAIL:cefexexpress1@y7mail.com
Please send them your contacts
information to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your
country with your BOX. This the information they need from in order to
delivery your box to youraddress.
1.YOUR FULL NAME...
2.YOUR HOME
ADDRESS ....
3 YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.....
4.YOUR CURRENT
OFFICE TELEPHONE.......
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE.........

Please make
sure you send this needed informations to the Director general Efex
express courier company world wild in Benin Mr HARRY DOMINIC. with the
address given to you.Note. The Efex express courier company here don\'t
know the contents of the Box.

I registered it as a dameges of jeans
returning to the retaler.Note:The company don\'t know that the contents
of the box is money.Please don\'t let them to know that the contents of
the Box is money to avoid them from delaying with the box. I am waiting
for your urgent response.

Meanwhile remember to pay them their Security
Keeping fee of $185 USD Dollars for their immediate.they will use to
obtain insurance certificate and claims of affadvite that will prove
that the box belongs to you. Berest assure that all other fees have been
paid by me.
I am waiting for your urgent response.

Thanks
Mr JIM
PETER

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam