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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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 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.
  • +22997279925 (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.
  • mrharry_dom@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Franca Jude" <mrs.franca.jude@klikni.cz>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 19:00:47 +0200
Subject: Very Important contact them now


Dear friend,

I want to inform you that the fee for your Cheque has been paid on January
2008 because I went to the Eco bank that issued the cheque to confirm if the
cheque has expired and the manager of Eco Bank Benin told me that before the
check will get to you it will expire. So I told him to cash the
$1,500.000.00, all the necessary arrangement of delivering of the
$1,500.000.00 in cash was made with EFEX EXPRESS COMPANY WORLD WIDE.

Bellow is the contact of the Efex Company World Wide:

MR HARRY DOMINIC.
EMAIL: mrharry_dom@yahoo.com
Contact telephone; +229 97279925

Please send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX.
These are the information they need from you in order to delivery your box
to your address.

1. YOUR FULL NAME..........................
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS..................
3 YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.....
4. YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE............
5. A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT......

Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director General of
Efex express courier company world wild in Benin Mr HARRY DOMINIC. With the
address given to you.

Note. The Efex express courier company here doesn't know the contents of the
Box, I registered it as a damages of jeans returning to the seller, the
delivery company don't know that the contents of the box is money.

Please don't let them to know that the content of the Box is money to avoid
them from delaying with the box. I am waiting for your urgent response.

Meanwhile remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $285 USD
Dollars for the keeping of the consignment, and to enable them obtain
insurance certificate which will prove that the box belongs to you.

Be rest assure that all other fees have been paid by me.

Thanks
Mrs. Dike.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam