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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:

• 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)
  • "dumorrage" (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. )
  • "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. )
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • +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.
  • fedex_couriercompany0022@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: chike_paul5@zipmail.com.br
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:12:59 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONTACT=20COURIER=20SECURITY=20COMPANY?=

Dear Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family.
Honestly I am so happy to inform you that I have Paid the fee for your Conformable
Bank Draft of $1,200,000.00 United States Dollars,.Because the manager of
Eco Bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will
expire.So I told him to cash the $1,200,000.00 Dollars to cash payment
to avoid losing this funds under expiration as I will be out out of the
country for a 6Months Course and I will not come back till end of June 2008.
All the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.200,000.00 in cash was
made with FAST LINK COURIER AND SECURITY COMPANY .This is the information
they need to delivery your package to you.

What you have to do now is to contact the FAST LINK COURIER AND SECURITY
as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your Consignment to
you. 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
& Twenty Five 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 dumorrage

You have to contact the FAST LINK COURIER AND SECURITY now for the delivery
of your Draft with this information bellow;

Contact Person: Dr. Philip Omoh
Email Address: fedex_couriercompany0022@yahoo.fr
Tel/FAX: +229 934 34390

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.

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 info's to the Director general of
FAST LINK COURIER AND SECURITY Dr Philip Omoh with the address given to
you. Note ;The COURIER COMPANY don't know the contents of the Box. I registered
it as a Box of an Africa cloths. They don't know its content is money.This
is to avoid them delaying with the Box. Don't let them know that is money
that is in that Box.I am waiting for your urgent response.

Thanks and my regards to your family.
Barrister Chike Paul

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam