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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  • +447092889230 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mr_george_williams1@yahoo.dk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "koffi bassey" <koffibassey6@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 11:19:59 +0100
Subject: LONDON CONTROL DELIVERY UNIT


BATCH NUMBER: (BN84509)

Dear Beneficiary,

With respect to your request for cash pay compensation sum of $680,000.00
USD through diplomatic means; be informed that your bank draft has been
re-validated and cashed. The total sum of $680,000.00 USD has been carefully
packaged in a trunk box and deposited with Impex Courier & Shipping Company,
Cotonou, Benin Republic. The bills has been packaged and covered with
photographic film materials to ensure the safety of the content.

Consignment Description:
Type: ............................ Diplomatic

Size: ............................ L: W: H / 21:20:13
CM

Weight: .......................... 0.29kg

Colour: .......................... Bronze

As for our agreement with the IMPEX COURIER & SHIPPING COMPANY they promised
that your consignment will leave by next week, but the Director of the IMPEX
COURIER & SHIPPING COMPANY said that they need you to reconfirm your current
delivery address to enable them meet up with you immediately their delivery
Diplomat Agent arrive to your country. Please contact Impex Courier &
Shipping Company below.

ATTN: Mr. George Williams
E-MAIL: mr_george_williams1@yahoo.dk
LONDON CONTROL DELIVERY UNIT
VOICE/FAX: +44 709 288 9230

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 DELIVERY ADDRESS
...............................

3. YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER ..................

4. A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE (For Identification)
.........

For your information, the shipping charge of $950.00 has been paid by me to
the Impex officer through Money Gramm. The reference number for Money Gramm
is 65488728 and receiver name is George Williams. The only money you will
send to the courier company to deliver your BOX direct to your postal
address is $99.0 0 only being their Security Keeping Fee of the Courier
Company so far. Again, make sure you pay ONLY $99.00 for the keeping fee, I
would have paid for the keeping fee but they refused because they don't know
when you will contact them and in case of demurrage. You have to contact the
Impex Courier and Shipping Company now for the delivery of your BOX to avoid
further delay that might attract demurrage.

Please note that IMPEX COURIER & SHIPPING COMPANY will start calculating
their demurrage charge of $25.50c per week after elapse of 14 days of the
deposit so do contact them immediately and ask the director to give you
direction on how to send their security keeping fee. I will be out of the
country to Paraguay and will not be able to read my mail till the next six
months as I will be in a timber village for my business investment with my
new partner but will contact you as soon as I
return from my trip.
As a matter of fact, make sure as the rightful beneficiary of the BOX, you
must contact them by
indicating the CODE: 2661428 to enable them deliver the BOX package as they
have it in their record.

Best Regards

Mr. Koffi Bassey
Pan African Finance Sarl

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam