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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.

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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)
  • "clearance certificate" (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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million united states 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993434390 (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.
  • flcscompanyplc@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: fenandzwilliams@elvigiaensenada.com
Date: Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:53:55 +0100
Subject: CONFORM THIS TO ME URGENT

My Dear Friend
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your
Confirmable Bank Draft of $1.2Million United States Dollars,
but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went to
the bank to confirm if the draft has expired or getting near
to expire and Mr. Justin Yayi the Director Bank of Africa
told me that before the draft will get to your hand that it
will expire. So I told him to cash the $1.2Million UNITED
STATES DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losing this funds
under expiration as I will be out out of the country for a 3
Months Course and I will not come back till end of January
2008.
What you have to do now is to contact the FASTLINK COURIER
AND SECURITY COMPANY as soon as possible to know when they
will deliver your package to you because of the expiring
date.For your information, I have paid for the delivering
Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of
the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to
sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country.
The only money you will send to the Courier Company to
deliver your Consignment direct to your postal Address in
your country is ($125.00 US) One Hundred & TwentyFive United
States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the
Courier Company so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody
to pay any other money except $125.00 US Dollars. I would
have paid that but they said no because they don't know when
you will contact them and in case of demurrage.
You have to contact the FASTLINK COURIER AND SECURITY
COMPANY now for the delivery of your Draft with this
information bellow;
Contact Person: Dr. Philip Omoh
Email Address:(flcscompanyplc@yahoo.fr )
Tel/FAX: +229 934 34390
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address
and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any
mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you the
tracking number to enable you track your package over there
and know when it will get to your address. Let me repeat
again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail
to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their
Security Keeping fee of $125.00 US Dollars for their
immediate action.
Note this. The FASTLINK COURIER AND SECURITY COMPANY don't
know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a BOX of
Africa cloths. They did not know the contents was money.
this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don’t let
them know that box contents money ok. I am waiting for your
urgent response.
Yours Faithfully,

MR DONALD FRANK

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam