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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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 service" (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.
  
• 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.
  • +447011149701 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447006065772 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • tnt_xpress3@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <joannabenz11@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:42:12 -0400
Subject: Greetings!


Greetings!

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirm able Bank Draft of $800.000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with TNT COURIER SERVICE, UNITED KINGDOM, I travelled out of the country for a Months Course and I will not come back till end of December.


What you have to do now is to contact the TNT COURIER SERVICE 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.

Again, I would have paid for the Security Keeping fee of $275 but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.You have to contact the TNT COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Draft with this information, All you have to do is contact furnish TNT COURIER SERVICE identification for verification of the details there in there office:

Names in full,.............
Residential ...............
Zip code,..................
Country,...................
Telephone number,..........
Fax number,................
Age,.......................
Marital Status,............
Sex....................
Nationality............

NAME: Mr.James Collins (dispatch officer)
COMPANY: TNT COURIER SERVICE.
Email Address:tnt_xpress3@hotmail.com
TEL: +44701-114-9701
Fax: +44-7006-065-772

There and know when it will get to your address.
Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $275 for their immediate action.

You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs. Joanna Benz

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam