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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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.
  • +2348033207339 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mr.andersoncraig@live.com
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:52:09 +0000
Subject: Information on Your Certified Bank Draft.


Greeting,

I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirmable 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 DHL DELIVERY COMPANY,West Africa,I travelled out of the country for a 3 Month Course.

What you have to do now is to contact the company to for them to deliver your package to you because of the expiring date.

For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charge and Insurance premium of the Cheque showing that it is not Drug Money.

The only money you will send to the company to deliver your Draft direct to your Postal Address in your country is ($390.00 USD) only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courrier Company so far.

I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.

Contact the company now for the delivery these information below:

DHL DELIVERY CONTACT: Mr. Anderson Craig,
E-mail: mr.andersoncraig@live.com,
Phone:+234-803-3207-339.

Finally, make sure that you re-confirm 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.

Let me repeat, try to contact them as soon as you receive this email to avoid any further delay.

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

Best Regards,
Mr. Brown Kenneth.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam