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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.

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:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "courier service" (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.
  • +2348020763858 (Nigeria, 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.
  • cdtl9000@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: cdtl9000@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:18:21 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION!!! FEDEX HEAD-AFRICA REGION.....YOUR PACKAGE DELIVERY


Attention!!!


Am Mr. Frank James, of FedEx Courier Services Company mailing you in respect
of your Package (CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT) which after careful scrutiny contains
the sum of $1.200, 000.00 (One Million Two Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) that the Federal Ministry of Finance and Revenue's Board brought to
this Company to be delivered to you and before protocol commenced we had a
dispute about the Insurance cover of the bank draft which was later settled
pending your response.

We are happy to inform you that your payment bank draft Package is among the
24 packages listed for immediate collection which is now in our office and
also with your name as the receiver despite that we lost your residential
address and we request that you re-confirm it with our office for safe
delivery of your Package without hesitation.

Note: you have to make your full information available to Mr. Glen Peters.
who is directly in charge of your bank draft package. Send the following

details:

1. FULL NAME
2. DELIVERY ADDRESS
3. PHONE NUMBERS

The above information should be sent to:

Name: Glen Peters.
Status: Regional Dispatch Manager
Phone Number: +234-802-076-3858
Email Address: cdtl9000@hotmail.com<http://us.mc657.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cdtl9000@hotmail.com>



Yours Truly,

Mr. Frank James.
FedEx Head-African Region

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam