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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 us 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)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "barr." (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. )
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • +22997347261 (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.
  • fedexcsc@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:23:06 +0100
Subject: Dear friend,pls. contact Fedex Global Company for your package


Gooday My Dear Friend,

 

How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft. And  I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and  Mr. Ahmed Zafa the Director of Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) told me that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire.
 
So I told him to cash the US$1.5MILLION US DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losting this funds. However, all the necessary arrangement for the delivering sum US$1.5MILLION US DOLLARS in cash was made with FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LTD in Cotonou Benin Republic, Mr. Ahmed Zafa the Director of Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) Cotonou have package the sum of US$1.5MILLION US DOLLARS in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me to Register the Consignment with FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LTD. Infact I'm happy that every movement I made goes successfully.
 
As for our agreement with the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LTD. they promised that your consignment will leave this Country on as soon as possible, But the Director of the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LTD. said that they need your contacts information’s and remember that you have to pay their Security Keeping Fees Sum of $185.00us dollars only to able them meet up with the immediate delivery of the consignment box to you once the diplomat arrived in your Country.
 
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.
 
DIRECTOR: Dr. BABA   YUSUF
TEl: +:229-97 347 261
EMAIL: fedexcsc@rocketmail.com
  
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what they need from you and included with the security keeping fees sum of $185.00us dollars.
 
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
   & A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
 
Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director general of FEDEX COURIER Company LTD, with their address stated above. Note: FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LTD don't know the contents of the Box, I registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents money. This is to avoid them delaying of this BOX. So don't let them know that the Box contains money to avoid diverting to another person.
 
I am waiting for your urgent response. You can even call the Director of the company with this line: +229-97 347 261
 
Thanks Remain Blessed.
BARR. JANE SEIFA

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam