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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:
  • "stamp duty" (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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
  • ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22998141769 (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.
  • dhl_express_com@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Jim Bruce"<donotreply@boa.com>
Reply-To: <dhl_express_com@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 03:47:57 +0200
Subject: CONTACT DHL BENIN FOR YOUR VISA CARD DELIVERY!!

Dear Beneficiary,


Having reviewed all the obstacles and problems surrounding the transfer of
your (USD$1,500,000..00) and your inability to meet up with some charges
levied against you due to the past transfer options, We the Board of
Directors, Bank Of Africa (BOA) has ordered our Foreign Payment Remittance
Unit to issue you a CORPORATE VISA CARD where your payment will be uploaded
and today, we got notice that your Payment has been uploaded into this
CORPORATE VISA CARD and also have registered it with DHL for delivery to you.

For your information, The delivery charges has been paid and they were
supposed to have shipped your packaged ATM CARD but they insisted that you
must re-confirm to them your current delivery address to ensure accurate Delivery.

MOST IMPORTANT: Due to the content of the package, DHL mandated that before
your package will be shipped, A Tax/Stamp Duty MUST be procured according to
the New Customs Creed and the importance of such Document is to ensure a
hitch-free delivery and the amount is $95.99 USD.

Therefore re-confirm your current delivery address (i.e 1. Full Names, 2.
Delivery Address and 3. Telephone Number) to DHL.

Johnson Hillman
DHL International Benin
Lot No. 23 Patte D'Oie
03 BP 2147
Cotonou
Email: dhl_express_com@sify.com
Tel: +229 9814-1769

Please hurry now as your package might incure dumourages if it stays more than
3days with DHL.


Thanks,
Dr. Jim Bruce
For the Management of BOA.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam