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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:
  • "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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (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)
• 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.
  • +22993000448 (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.
  • fedexcourier.company147@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "peteraronu Gazeta.pl" <peteraronu@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 01:01:01 +0100
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY BENIN


CONTACT FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY BENIN
ODAWA & COUNSELORS AT L
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY
WEST AFRICA COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
EMAIL: fedexcourier.company147@yahoo.fr )
PHONE:+229 93-000-448
Greetings!
I have been waiting for you ever since to contact me for your Confirmable
Bank Draft of $3.5 Million United States Dollars, but I haven't heard from
you since that time. So I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER
SERVICE, West Africa. Meanwhile, I've travelled out of the country for a 3
Months Course and will not be back till the end of May.

What I would advise you to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as
soon as possible to know when they would commence the delivery of your
package to you because of the expiry date.



For your information, I have paid for the delivery Charges, Insurance
premium and Clearance Certificate fee of the draft showing that it is
neither connected to Drug Money nor meant to sponsor any terrorist attack in
your Country. The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to
deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($135 )
US Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any money more than $135 US
Dollars for the Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company.


I would have paid that but I was denied of it as they argued that they don't
know when you will contact them in the case of any demurrage. You have to
contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Draft with
this information below;


Contact Person: Sir DR Hassan Gamar.N.
Email Address: (fedexcourier.company147@yahoo.fr )
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 inform you of when your package would
get to your address once it is on
transit.

Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to
avoid further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of
$135 US Dollars for their immediate action. And also ask them to send you
the tracking numer of your package ones they move to your country to able
you tracking to know where and when it will arrive ok.You should also let me
know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.


SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/
TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/
CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.PETER ARONU.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam