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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:
  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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +22993914379 (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.
  • fedexshippingcompanyltdb@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "johnwilliam2 Gazeta.pl" <johnwilliam2@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 19:52:35 +0200
Subject: PLS/CONTACT FEDEX SHIPPING COMPANY


Antt; Dear

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank
Draft of 1.2 million United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you for
a very long time now. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX
SHIPPING COMPANY HER IN BENIN REPUBLIC , Cotonou, before I travelled out of
the country for a 3 Months Course which will end on march 2008.What you
have to do now is to contact the FEDEX SHIPPING COMPANY BENIN as soon as
possible to know when they will deliver your package to you before the
expiration date of the bank draft.

For your information, I have paid the delivering Charges and Insurance
fees.The only money you will send to the FEDEX to deliver your Draft direct
to your postal Address in your country is ($105.00 US) One Hundred & Five
United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fees.Again, don't be
deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $105.00 US Dollars. I
would have paid that but they refused because they don't know when you will
contact them for the shipping due to the delay deumorage charges.

You have to contact the FEDEX SHIPPING COMPANY now for the delivery of your
Draft with this required information below:
Contact Person : Dr Jim Peter
Email Address : fedexshippingcompanyltdb@yahoo.fr
Contact phone : +229 9391 4379


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 give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over
there and know when it will get to your address.
Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to
avoid any further delay and ask them to give you the information where you
will pay them their Security Keeping fees of $105.00 US Dollars for their
immediate action.You should also let me know through email as soon as you
receive your Draft.

Regards,
Mr John William.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam