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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "you are required to pay " (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. )
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +22993154574 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "PRINCE EZE UGO" <princeezeugo23@ig.com.br>
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:44:48 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS CONTACT FEDEX COMPANY FOR THE IMMEDIATE SHIP OF YOUR FUND TO YOU WITHIN 24 HOURS.


*Dearest.

Happy new year to you, How are you today?I am writing to inform you that I
have Paid the fee for delivering the Bank Draft. *

*And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near
to expire and Raymond Aludi the Director of Bank *

*Of Afrique Benin told me that before the cheque will get to you that it
will expire. He advised me to cash the $850.000.oo to cash payment to avoid
loosing this funds However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
$850.000.00 in cash was made with Fedex Company Services here in Cotonou
Benin Republic, Mr Raymond Aludi the Director of Bank Of Afrique Benin have
agreed to package the fund in cash for me. Infact I thank God very much for
all thmovement I made every thing goes smoothly.As for our agreement with
the Fedex they promised that your consignment will leave *

*this Country any moment from now,
*

*
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.
*

*MR SAQUILI RIVALDO
PUBLIC RELATION OFFICER.
TEl: +229-93154574 /TELEPHONE +22993847822
email; **fedexshippingcompaycustomercare@ymail.com*<fedexshippingcompaycustomercare@ymail.com>
* Please, Send them your contacts information such as listed below to able *

*them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your
consignment.Bear in mind that you are required to pay the *

*fee of $99 USD before fedex can complete the delivery to your doorstep
within 24 hours over night delivery,The purpose of *

*this fee as disclose to me by Fedex management board member is to obtain
insurance certificate and claims of affadvite for *

*your consignment to ensure safety delivery to your doorstep.
*

*1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
6.NEAREST AIRPORT TO YOUR HOUSE.
*

*Note: The Fedex Company don't know the contents of the Box. I registered it
as an African art materials. Bear in mind that *

*nobody knows that the consignment contains money.I am waiting for your
urgent response.
*

*REV. DR. PRINCE EZE UGO.
PUBLIC RELATION OFFICER.*

*
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam