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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +447031928941 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +2348060076224 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: FedEx Courier Service <agnt_franksmith@live.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:58:11 +0100
Subject: Agent Frank Smith (Fedex delivery Company)



(1)Fedex delivery Company
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RD
IKEJA, LAGOS.NIGERIA.
TEL; ;+2348060076224.
FEDEX Courier Service
DURATION FOR DELIVERY: 48 hours
TOTAL AMOUNT $380 USD.
Attention:
This is to confirm that your Certified Bank Draft/Cheque is in my custody and that there is no cause for panic, your winning is genuine and legal,and not some sort of trying to get your money.
I want you to know that I am a legitimate man of God and with a wife and kids, I can not get my self involve in a scam for it is not of the lord to do that. I am only doing my job; I want to make sure you get what is rightfully yours. If I don’t do what I am expected to do at my office it will be that I don’t know my job and God will be angry with me.
Please put trust in me and have faith. I know it will be hard to believe me but if you so wish you may call our UK head office and confirm at +44 703 192 8941.
I want to assure you that this is on the up and there is noting you have to panic about. I can’t scam you out of $380, it’s against Gods words and evil to mankind.
If you feel you don’t want your winnings please kindly send me a letter of refusal addressed to Mrs. KATE WILLIAMS and have it signed so that I will present it to the head office in the UK and have your funds retuned or possibly add to the funds for the less destitute and have it donated to them.
I shall be waiting for your note of refusal if you don’t want your funds and if you wish to receive your Draft, proceed with the information below;
Receiver's Information's:Receiver's Full Name:Receiver's Contact Address (State, City,Zipcode):Receiver's Reachable Phone Number:
You are therefore advice to send the above fees ($380usd) to enable me send your check to you. As soon as I receive the payment fees, the check will be sent to your address under 48hours.
You are to send the money with our agent name below (MR.OLIVER OKPE) via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM TRANSFER.
PAYMENT INFORMATION:
Senders Name:?......................... Your nameSenders Address:?............................ Your AddressReceivers Name:... MR. OLIVER OKPEReceivers Address:...Lagos-Nigeria.Text Question: In God?Text Answer: We Trust.MTCN:...............................????
Send the MTCN for easy pick up. As soon as you send the Payment details today to enable me dispatch your Check and send you the tracking number.
Regard,
Agent Frank SmithTel: +234-80-6007-6224.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam