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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "vat (5%)" (VAT rate in the UK is 17.5%, check the math)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• 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.
• 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.
  • +2348088814417 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Ryan Chappel" <rchap111@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:28:25 -0700
Subject: Attn:


*Attn: *

*I acknowledge the receipt of your e-mail, How ever i have contacted the
Dhl delivery company to confirm the courier charges to get your package
delivered to your home address, Thus the courier fee is 368usd.More so your
package will be delivered to your home address within 48hrs after payment
verification.*

*This was according to the company representative (Mr. Mike Okoh)*
[image: The Extra Mile] <http://www.dhl-usa.com/proof/2/>
<http://fedex.com/ratefinder/home?cc=ng&language=en>
* Dhl DELIVERY COMPANY *
*DURATION FOR DELIVERY *
* 48 HOURS OF DELIVERY*

*EXECUTIVE 2 DAYS DELIVERY***
**
*An original certificate of weight....0.9Gramms**
Total weight of parcel...............0.9Gramms
Colour of parcel......................Brown***
*Dhl deliver charges..............Free**
mailing................................. ($20USD)
Insurance............................. ($278 USD)
Vat (5%)................................ ($70 USD)
TOTAL.................................. (368$USD)***
**
*Note: The charges cannot be deducted from your winnings. This is in
accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the National Gambling Act as adopted in
1993 and amended on **3RD July 1996** by the constitutional assembly. This
is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.***

*Also as a matter of urgency you are therefore advised to send the above fee
of Three hundred and sixty eight united state dollars only in favor of the
delivery company's representative*

*His details below.*

*Name: Mr. Mike Okoh*

*Destination: 23-24 crescent satellite towns, **Abuja**, **Nigeria**, 23401*

*Also forward the following details to us as written on your western union
receipt for confirmation and also for record purpose*

*Sender's Name*

*Sender's Address*

*Receiver's Name: Mike Okoh*

*Destination: 23-24 crescent satellite towns, **Abuja**, **Nigeria**, 23401*

*Text question: What for?*

*Text answer: A gift*

*Amount sent: $368usd*

*M.T.C.N: (10 digit number)*

*Congratulations once more and wishing you best of investment.*

*Regards*

*Mr Ryan Chappell
Senior Staff Of Compensation Foriegn Affairs Lagos Nigeria Headquaters.*
*
Tel:Office +234-703-114-1906*
*Tel Mobile +234-808-881-4417*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam