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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "registration fee" (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. )
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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. )
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • fedexcou_cobenin@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "barmikeben1 Gazeta.pl" <barmikeben1@gazeta.pl>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 03:24:46 +0200
Subject: CONTACT PERSON DR DON WILLIAM FROM FEDEX COURIER COMPANY IN BENIN


*Dear,

Complement, this is to inform you that due to your inability to send the
registration fee of your cashier cheque worth of $1.5m usd (ONE MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ONLY) and i have waited for long time
now yet you fail to come with the requested charges, then i decided to
involve the issued bank to avoid losing of the fund since my client is not
yet returned .

When i got to the bank, the director told me that the cheque has three weeks
to expire, in other words your check will be invalid in a matter of some
days now, then i told the director to convert the cheque into cash to avoid
loosing of the money but he said i have to sign on your behalf as your
attorney before that can be done since you the beneficaiy that the cheque
was on his name is not here , i personaly as a lawyer will be involve for
the signing and procurement of vital documents needed.

Now am just confused because i don't have the money for that but i have no
choice than to comply with the bank's directives since i want to save your
fund. After meeting with the bank Attorney, he told me that he will arrange
for the documents as well as the signings for the bank to covert the cheque
into cash payment but i have pay him $2500.00 for the job ,then i explained
that i don't have the money, after pleaded with him that as soon as the job
is done, then the money will deducted for his payment before any other thing
can be done . He accepted, the bank director also assured me that after the
convertion of your check, the money will be packaged in a diplomatic box and
deposited with the bank official security and courier company for save
keeping as well as the delivering of your package to your home address.

Am happy to inform you that the job has been done, the check has been
converted into cash and is right now with FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE for
delivery, remember the package is registered as family valuables for
security reasons and with a seal on it, it can be open only with a security
code which i will forward the keys to you.

Therefore contact the company today on this informations bellow:

Company Name : Fedex Express Courier Service (Security Department)
Contact Person: Mr JOSEPH UGO
Email: **fedexcou_cobenin@yahoo.fr* <fedexcou_cobenin@yahoo.fr>
*
Note ; your package was registered as family valuables under security
monitoring department, in no condition will you disclose the real content of
your package to anybody till you receive it in your home for security
reasons, all you have to do is Email the company, tell them your name, tell
them that your Barrister registered your package with them for deliver ok
you can tell them my name.

Remember they will ask you for followings :

Your Full Name ................
Your Home Address..............
Your corrent Phone Numbers ..............home
Your Cel Numbers...............
Your Age.................
You personal identification............

While contacting them includes these informations to avoid delays in
delivering ok .Meanwhile i will be waiting to hear from you after your
discussion with them .I also want to remined you that $3000.00 was deducted
from the total sum and this amount includes the registration of your package
to the company.
Best Regards,*

*Barr Mike Ben*

**

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam