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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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. )
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ANTHONY EDEM" <a.edem8@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:25:38 -0700
Subject: CONTACT GLOBAL COURIER SERVICE COMPANY FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT


Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirm-able Bank
Draft of $9500,000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you
since that time.


Then I went and deposited the Bank Draft with GLOBAL COURIER SERVICE
COMPANY, Cotonou, Benin Republic before I traveled out of the country for a
5 Months Course and I will not come back till end of December 2008.


What you have to do now is to contact GLOBAL COURIER SERVICE COMPANY as soon
as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of
the expiring date.For your information, I have paid for the delivering
Charge, Insurance premium Fee of the funds showing that it is not a Drug
Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country.


The only money you will send to the Courier Company to deliver your Bank
Draft direct to your Address in your country is ( $125.00 US ) United States
Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.


I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you
will contact them and in case of demur-rage. You have to contact the GLOBAL
COURIER SERVICE COMPANY now for the delivery of your Bank Draft with this
information below;


COMPANY NAME: GLOBAL COURIER SERVICE COMPANY
CONTACT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: DR.JOHNSON YAYI
CONTACT EMAIL: courier_service1@live.com

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your address, your direct telephone
number, your full name, and a copy of your photograph if possible,To avoid
any mistake on the Delivery, Let me repeat again, Try to contact them as
soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and request on how
or where to send the $125.00 Security Keeping Fee of your Bank Draft. You
should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Bank
Draft.


Yours Faithfully,
Dr Anthony Edem.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam