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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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. )
  • "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.
  • +22998110781 (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.
  • apexofficebj@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Thomas James" <revthjr4@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:09:30 +0200
Subject: Contact Apex for Your Bank Cashier Cheque.


Hello Friend,

Compliment of the day to you and your family. How are you doing today, Hope
you have not forgotten me? I am Barr. Thomas James Jr, from Benin
republic who contacted you some time ago to assist me secure the release of
some money accrued from the over owning invoicing of an Oil
contract/inheritance that was awarded by my government some time ago.

Though you were not able to assist me conclude the transaction, I'm happy to
inform you about my success in getting those funds transfered under the
assistance and co-operation of a new partner from India, Presently i'm
in India for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.

Meanwhile, i didn't forget your past advice, efforts and attempts to assist
me in getting those funds, I made sure you are not left out the benefit of
the transaction hence I kept aside for you the sum of Nine hundred and Fify
thousand United State Dollars (USD$950,000.00) Bank Cashier Cheque.

I and my new partner agreed to compensate you with that amount for all your
past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciate your
efforts at that time very much. Therefore, get in touch with Apex Courier
Company where i deposited the cheque and instruct them on how to send the
bank Cashier cheque to you, i left the cheque with them before i leave the
country.

Please do let me know immediately you receive the cheque so that we can
share the joy together after all the stress of the transaction at that time.
In the moment, i'm very busy here because of the Oil Investment Projects
which me and my partner are having at hands. So feel free to get intouch
with Apex Courier Company.

I have paid for the yellow tag fee and delivery Charge.The only money you
will send to the Apex Express to deliver your Cheque direct to your postal
Address in your country is US$106 One Hundred & Six United States Dollars
only being Security Keeping Fee for the Apex Service . I would have paid
that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and
in case of dumourrage on your Package with them.

Please write a letter of application to the given address below and tell
them my full name that i asked you to contact them for your cheque:
Company Name: Apex Courier

Director: Dr.Nelson Fabian
Email: apexofficebj@sify.com or apexoffibj@live.fr
Contact +229 98-11-07-81

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your

1:Postal address,

2:nearest local and international airport,

3;Direct mobile telephone number

4:Full names

5:contact address id card to avoid wrong delivery, they will issue you a
tracking #, to enable you track your Cheque and know when it will get to
your address.

With Best Regards,
Barr. Thomas James Jr

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam