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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.

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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:
  • "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 service" (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)
  • "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22997561813 (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.
  • courierservices@hotmail.fr
  • courierservicesuz@gmail.com
  • ecowas04@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ECOWAS COMMISSIO" <ecowascommission5@ig.com.br>
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:06:17 +0200
Subject: KINDLY CONACT COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR PACKAGE


Hello Dear,

Good day, How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the
fee for your Cheque Draft. And I went to Bank to confirm if the Cheque has
expired or getting near to expire and MR.SHARGUER AMBAH ECOBANK DIRECTOR
now told me that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will
expire.



So I told him to clear the $3,800,000,00 US Dollars into cash payment to
avoid losting of the funds.However all the necessary arrangement of
delivering the $3,800,000,00 US Dollars to you incash has been made here in
Cotonou Benin Republic and MR.SHARGUER AMBAH ECOBANK DIRECTOR has already
packaged the sum of $3,800,000,00 US Dollars in cash for me.Then he also
agreed of helping me and Register it as Consignment with FED-EX COURIER
SERVICE. Infact I thank God for helping me and see that all the effort i
made goes well.



As for our agreement with FED-EX COURIER SERVICES they promised that your
consignment will leave this Country soon as they hear from you,But the
Director *Robert C.Mario* said that they still need your contacts
informations so as to able there Diplomat Agent meet up with the delivering.



Please you are to write letter of application to the below address as well
as forwarding your contacts information to enable them locate you upon there
arrival in your country with the consignment .



1.YOUR FULL NAME......................................................
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS............................................
3. HOME OR OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER...........


Please make sure you send this needed info to Director General of FED-EX
COURIER SERVICES *Mr. Robert C. Mario*Tel 00229 97561813 Email:*
courierservices@hotmail.fr*<http://us.mc335.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=courierservices@hotmail.fr>
* or **courierservicesuz@gmail.com*<http://us.mc335.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=courierservicesuz@gmail.com>



Note.The contents of the Box are unknown to FEDEX COURIER SERVICES and it
was registered as a Box of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contains
money,this is to avoid them delaying with the Box or asking for more
delivering charges.Please never you allow them to know that the Box contains
money for security reasons.

I am waiting for your urgent response. You can even call the Director of
FED-EX COURIER SERVICES through this phone line 00229 97561813


REGARDS,
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY (ECOWAS COMMISSION)
MOHAMED IBN CHAMBARS
Office Email: ecowas04@hotmail.fr<http://us.mc335.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ecowas04@hotmail.fr>
Phone:00229-97521027

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam