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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • macbetj@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ikejames6 Gazeta.pl" <ikejames6@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:27:28 +0100
Subject: NOTE AND CONTACT (FEDEX) URGENTLY


My Dear Friend ,


Complement of the season ,this is to inform you due to your inablity to send
the registration fee of your cheque as requested by delivering company,i
have waited for long now yet no result, i then decided to involve the issued
bank to avoid losing of the funds since my boss is yet to returned.


When i got to the bank ,the director told me that the cheque of 850.000.00
has three weeks to expire that after three weeks it will be invalid then i
told the director to convert the check into cash to avoid losing of the
money but he said i have to hire a lawyer before that can be done since the
beneficaiy of the cheque is not here ,a lawyer will be involve for the
signing and the procurement of vital documents needed for that.


Now am just confused because i don't have the money for that but i have no
choice than to hire a lawyer who will assist me on this matter to avoid
loosing of the money .After meeting with the bank Attorney he told me that
he will arrange for the documents as well as the signings for the covertion
of the cheque into cash payment but he said i should pay him $2500.00 for
the job , then i explained to him that i don't have the money , i pleaded
with him


that as soon as the job is done , then the money will deducted for his
payment before anything .


He accepted ,the bank director also assured me that after the convertion of
your check , the money will be packaged in a security box and deposit it
with the bank official security 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 COMPANY
(F.C.S) OF BENIN REPUBLIC for delivery, remember the package was registered
as family valuables for security reasons under security monitoring
department with a seal on it for security reasons .

You can find the code number beside the packaged box, there is a place in it
they wrote TRP , when you open it through that side you will see the code to
open it, so contact the company today on this informations bellow:


Company Name : FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY (F.C.S.) OF BENIN REPUBLIC
Security Department
Contact Person: Mr.Malachy Muhammed :
Email: macbetj@yahoo.fr


Note ; your package was register as family valuables , in no condition will
you disclose the real content of your package to anybody till you receive it
in your home for security reasons,email the company , tell them your name ,
tell them that your agent register 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...............
You personal adentification............


While contacting them includes these informations to avoid any further
delays in delivering ok .
Meanwhile i will be waiting to hear from you after your discussion with them
,also i want to
remind you that $3000.00 was deducted from the total sum and this amount
includes the registration and insurance cover $500.00 and $2500.00 of the
barrister that did the job .

Best Regards,
Mr .James Ike

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam