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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:
  • "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)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier service" (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. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22993926950 (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.
  • impexdiplomaticcourierxx0268@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: rhuksanthony1@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:16:58 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?GOOD=20NEWS=20MY=20DEAR=20FRIEND?=

Dearest Friend Good News,

How are you today? I am writing to inform you that i have Cashed your Cheque
Draft.And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting
near to expire and Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Trust Bank told
me that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire.

So I told him to cash the (850 000.00) to cash payment to avoid losting
this funds.However,all the necessary arrangement of delivering the (850
000.00)in cash was made with Impex Courier Service here in Cotonou Benin
Republic, Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Trust Bank Cotonou have
to package the sum of (850 000.00) in cash for me. Then he also agreed to
help me to Register the Consignment with Impex Courier Service. Infact I
thank God very much for all the movement I made, every thing goes normally.

As for our agreement with the Impex Courier Service they promised that
your consignment will leave this Country next week,But the Director of the
Impex Courier Service said that they need your contacts informations to
anable them meet up with you,immediately the Diplomat Agent arrived in your
Country.
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.

Company Name : Impex Courier Service(ICS)Security Department .
EMAIL:( impexdiplomaticcourierxx0268@yahoo.fr )
CONTACT PERSON : MR MATHEW R. THOMAS:Tellphone:+229-93926950.

Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately
they arrived in your country with your BOX.This is what they need from you,

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director general
of Impex Courier Service MR MATHEW R. THOMAS: with the address given to
you.Note.The Impex Courier Service don't know the contents of the Box.
I registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents
money. this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. don't let them know
that is money that is in that Box.Contact MR MATHEW R. THOMAS: You can
even get back to me immediately you comtact the Compnay

With Best Regards
BarristerChuks Anthony.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam