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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:
  • "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. )
  • "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)
  • "million united state dollars" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +22993684690 (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.
  • fedex_courier250@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "john eze" <john.eze13@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:57:30 +0200
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COUIER COMPANY


Good day.!!!!

How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the
registration fee for your CHEQUE which has been with me for a long time.
And I went to the bank to confirm if the draft has expired or getting
near to expire and Mr. Henry Yayi the Director Bank of Africa told me
that before the draft will get to your hand that it will expire. So I
told him to cash the $1.5 Million united state dollarsS to cash payment to
avoid losing this funds under expiration.

However, all the necessary arrangement for delivering the $1.5M USD
united state dollarsS in cash was made with FEDEX COURIER COMPANY
here in Cotonou Benin Republic, Mr. Henry Yayi the Direct or of Bank of
Africa Cotonou has package the sum of $1.5M USD in cash for
you.

Then he also help me to Register the Consignment with FEDEX COURIER
COMPANY Infact I thank God very much for all the movement I made, every
thing went normally. As for our agreement with the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY
they promised that your consignment will leave this Country on or
before 5 days from now, But the Director of the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY said
that they need your contacts information's to enable them meet up with
you immediately the Diplomat Agents arrived in your Country.
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.

ATTN: DR CHARLES BONI
Email: fedex_courier250@yahoo.fr
Tel: +229 936 84 690

Please Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what
they need from you.

1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3 YOUR COUNTRY
4.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
6.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION/ PICTURE WHEN DELVERY

Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director
general of FEDEX COURIER COMPANY REV.JOHN.EZE with the address given to
you.

Note this. Courrier Company don't know the contents of the Box. I
registered it as a BOX of Africa cloths. They did not know the contents was
money. this is to avoid them delaying with the
BOX.

Dont let them know that box contents money ok. I am waiting for your urgent
response. You can even call the Director of FEDEX COURIER COMPANY
with this line:Tel: +229 936 84 690

Regards.
REV.JOHN.EZE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam