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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:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • +22993941521 (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.
  • transworldcs@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Marthins Johnson" <93604106ae@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info2mjohnson@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 13:04:24 +0200
Subject: YOUR FUNDS DELIVERY THROUGH 'DCS'


Attention please

This is to inform you that i went to the issuing bank of your check to
confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Prof. Kofi
Williams the Director of Finance, AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK told me that
before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire and I told him
to convert the draft of $480,000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS into cash
payment to avoid losing this funds due to expiration.

All the necessary arrangement for delivering the $480,000.00 USD UNITED
STATES DOLLARS in cash has been made with TRANS WORLD COURIER SERVICES here
in Cotonou Benin Republic,

Prof. Kofi Williams helped us to package the sum into a consignment box for
you and he also helped me to deposit the Consignment with TRANS
WORLD COURIER SERVICES . Infact I thank God very much for everything was
successfully done.

As for our agreement with the TRANS WORLD COURIER SERVICES, they promised
that your package will leave this Country on or before 5 days from now, But
the Director of the TRANS WORLD COURIER SERVICES said that they need your
contacts informations to enable them meet up with you immediately the
Diplomatic Agent arrives your Country.

Please, Send your contacts information to enable them locate you immediately
they arrive your country with your consignment BOX .

This is what they needed from you.

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

Please make sure you send this needed informations to the Director general
of TRANS WORLD COURIER SERVICES DR. WILLIE D. DAVIS to the below address.

NAME: DR. WILLIE D. DAVIS
DIRECTOR, TRANS WORLD COURIER SERVICES,
20 DEGBAGO CRESENT, COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC.
TEL : +229 93941521
EMAIL: transworldcs@yahoo.com

Note that the TRANS WORLD COURIER SERVICES are not aware of the content of
the Box, it was deposited as A FABRIC MATERIALS. This is to avoid them
delaying with the BOX so do not let them know the content of the box for
security reasons.

Regards.

MARTHINS JOHNSON.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam