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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
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• 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.

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)
  • "insurance 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. )
  • "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.
  
• 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.parceldelivery@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "CHIEZIE AJIDE" <chiezieajide8@ig.com.br>
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 14:11:30 +0200
Subject: Contact Fedex Courier today for the delivery of your check.


Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you to come down here and pick your Bank Cheque
which my boss kept with me for your compensation in trying to assist him
initially in his multi-million business that he had concluded now with a new
partner from Chile but I did not hear from you since that time. I went and
deposited the Cheque with Fedex Parcel Delivery here in Benin Republic,
because I want to travel to Chile to see my boss and will not come back till
next month end and secondly, it is a risk for me to continue to keep the
check with me since my name is NOT on it, so I want you to contact the Fedex
Parcel Delivery here, Benin Republic to know when they will deliver your
package/Cheque.

NOTE: I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee on your
behalf. The only money you have to send to them is their security keeping
fee which is only US$150.00 ONLY to receive your package as they told me.
Below is their Contact Address:

Contact Person/Director Parcel Despatch: Mr. Frank Taylor.
Company: Fedex Parcel Delivery, Benin Republic.
Company's E-mail address: fedex.parceldelivery@yahoo.fr

Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security
keeping fee. I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm
your infos to them such below to avoid any mistake in the delivering.

1.Your full name.
2.Your telephone number.
3.Your address where you can easily receive your bank Cheque.
4.Security fee of US$150.00 only.

Wish you good luck as you comply to this directive.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Chiezie Ajide.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam