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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:
  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.

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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:
  • "security keeping fee" (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. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "consignment " (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)
  • "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • +2299386508 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22993865208 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: " BEN ASHFORD,"<sravell@optusnet.com.au>
Reply-To: <fedxcourier03@live.fr>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 16:30:04 +0200
Subject: Good day, how are you today?

Attn: My Good Friend,

Good day, how are you today?

I am writing to inform you of your confirmable bank draft of the sum of
$2, 500.000.00.( Two million five hundred thousand united state dollars ).
I went to the bank to confirm the date ofexpery of the cheque and i find
out it approaching dead line date, I decide to contacted DR. ADRIAN HAMZA the
Director for Financial Trust Bank who told me that before the cheque will
get to your hand that it will not be valid anymore.

So I told him to cash the $2.500,000.00 USD United States Dollars to avoid
losting this funds. However,All the necessary arrangement of delivering
the $2.500,000.00 Usd United States Dollars in cash was made with FedEx
Courier Company Ltd here in Cotonou Benin Republic, DR. ADRIAN HAMZA the
Director of Financial Trust Bank Cotonou have to package the sum of
$2.500,000.00 USD in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me to
Register the Consignment with FedEx Courier Company. Infact I thank God
for all the movement I made, every thing goes normally.

As for our agreement with the FedEx Courier Company they promised that
your consignment will leave this Country this week,But the Director of
the FedEx Courier Company said that they need your contacts informations
to enable them meet up with you immediately the Diplomat Agent arrived to
your Country.I have paid for the delivery charges except the security
keeping fee,which they said it can only be paid when the Deposits is ready
for shipment to the Receiver.Therefore,the only money you have to send to
them is the security keeping fee,

Please write a letter of application to the given address below.
CONTACT DR. ADRIAN HAMZA(DISTRICT)
MANAGER:(FedEx Courier Company Ltd)
CONTACT PHONE:(+22993865208 or(00229)93865208)
CONTACT E-mail: fedxcourier077@live.fr

Please, Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your Box .
This is what they need from you:
Your Full Name ===============
Your Home Address=============
Your corrent Numbers==========
Your Cel Numbers==============
Your Occupation===============
You personal adentification========
SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZSPACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442. SECURITY CODE
SCTC/2001DHX/567/ TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/ CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT
CODE SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01

Please make sure you supply those information to the Director general of
Fedex Courier Company DR. ADRIAN HAMZA using the above info, Note: The
Fedex Courier Company don't know the contents of the Box.

I registered it as family value ables and treasure they don't know it
contents money, this is to avoid delay during the delivering of the BOX.
don't let them know that the box contains money. I am waiting for your
urgent response, You can even call the Director of FedEx Courier Company
with this phone line: 00229-93-86-5208 or +229-93-86-508. Thanks and
Remain Blessed,

Best Regards,

Engr. BEN ASHFORD,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam