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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • +22993890618 (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.
  • hallmark_couriercomp@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: senator ben <senator_ben50@hotmail.fr>
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 04:11:46 +0100
Subject: SEND BELOW INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY TO ENABLE THEM DELIVER YOUR
PACKAGE.



MY DEAR FRIEND,I'M STILL BUSY HERE IN GERMANY WITH MY NEW PARTNER MEANWHILE,I HAVE PAID FOR THE DELIVERY FEE OF YOUR DRAFTED CHEQUE OF(800,000.00)DOLLARS I DRAFTED TO COMPENSATE YOU BUT THE MANAGER OF ECO BANK BENIN TOLD ME THAT BEFORE THE CHECK WILL GET TO YOU,THAT IT WILL BE EXPIRE.SO I TOLD HIM TO CASH THE FUND AND HELP ME TRANFER THE TOTAL FUND DIRECT TO YOUR ACCOUNT.FUSTUNATELY, HE EXPLAINED THAT BENIN GOVERNMENT WILL CONFISCATE THE FUND AND IT WILL BE DIVERT TO THE BENIN TREASURY DEPARTMENT.I DONT HAVE ANY OPTION THAN TO FOLLOW HIS INSTRUTION BECAUSE I WILL NOT BE BACK TILL NEXT YEAR. AS GOD's SO KIND,I HAVE SUCCEEDED IN DEPOSITED THE TRUNK BOX OF FUND AS CONSIGMENT WITH HALL MARK COURIER COMPANY BENIN WITH HELP OF ECO BANK MANAGER.THE HALL MARK COURIER BENIN WILL DELIVER THE TRUNK BOX THAT CONTAIN THE TOTAL FUND DIRECT TO YOUR HOUSE.NOTE IT REGISTER AS AFRICAN CLOTHS FOR SECURITY REASONS AND I TOLD HALL MARK COMPANY THAT YOU NEED TO DISTRIBUTE THE CLOTHS TO ALL YOUR AFRICAN CUSTUMER FOR XMAS HOLIDAY.SO ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT TO TRANSFER THE FUND THROUGH DELIVERY HAS MADE SUCESSFUL WITHMR.JIMI AKAN.CUSTOMER’S CARE DEPT.EMAIL,(hallmark_couriercomp@myway.com)PHONE,+ 229-97556132.SEND BELOW INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY TO ENABLE THEM DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE.1.FULL NAME2.ADDRESS3.PHONE NUMBER4.AGE.5.YOUR PACKAGE REGISTERATION NUMBER IS:HM.12301.SEND THE ABOVE INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IS ONLY THING DELAYING THE PACKAGE FOR SHIPMENT.THE KEY OF THE BOX STILL WITH THE ECO BANK INCASE YOU NEED IT BEFORE THE DELIVERY CONTACT DR.MARTHINS DAVE +22993890618.REMEMBER NOT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE BOX CONTENT IS MONEY.THIS IS TO AVOID THEM DELAYING WITH THE BOX.PLEASE MANAGE THE FUND FOR YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME DESPITE THAT YOU WERE NOT THEIR FOR THE COMPLITION OF THE WHOLE THING.DO LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE IT SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THEJOY TOGETHER. MY REGARDS TO YOUR FAMILY,SENATOR BEN.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam