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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "affidavit " (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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  
• 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.
  • +22995279030 (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.
  • golmax_diplomatic@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "KIL MARTIN" <m.kil@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:54:39 +0200
Subject: GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY BENIN


Dear Friend,

I want to inform you that the fee for your Certified Bank Draft has
been Paid this week 24/06/2008 8:30 am because the Manager of UTB Bank Benin
told me that before your Certified Bank Draft will get to you that it will
expire. So I told him to cash your $1.2M USD, All the necessary arrangement
concerning how to delivering your $1.2M USD, in cash was made with GLOBAL
MAX COURIER COMPANY BENIN. Bellow is the contact of the GLOBAL MAX COURIER
COMPANY BENIN


CONTACT PERSON: MR. KOPE ALUMI
PHONE: 00229-95279030
EMAIL: (golmax_diplomatic@hotmail.fr)
Please send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX. This is the
information they need from you in order to delivery your box to your
address.

*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-----------------------


Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director general
GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY BENIN. MR. KOPE ALUMI with their Email address
given to you above. Note, The GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY BENIN. here don't
know the contents of your Box. Your package was register as family
valuables,


They don't know it contents money to avoid them delaying with the Box.
Please don't let them to know that the contents of your Box is money to
avoid them from delaying with your box. I am waiting for your urgent
response. Meanwhile the only fee you have to pay them is $185 USD they will
use to obtain insurance certificate and claims of affidavit that will prove
the box that consist total sum of $1.2M USD belongs to you. Be rest assure
that all other fees have been paid by me. I am waiting for your urgent
response.


Thanks,

Chukwu Emmanuel.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam