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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:

• 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)
  • "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 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.
  • +22997933530 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:48:09 +0100
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COMPANY



My Dear Friend,
I want to inform you that the fee for your Cheque Draft has been Paid las=
t week Friday by 2:30 Pm afternoon because the manager of Eco Bank Benin =
told me that before the check will get to you it will expire.So i told hi=
m to cash the $1.5MILLION,all the necessary arrangement of delivering of =
the $1.5MILLION in cash was made with FEDEX COMPANY WORLD WILD.Here is th=
e contact of the Fedex Company World Wild bellow.
=C2=A0
ATTN: Mr JOSEPH HUGO.
EMAIL: ( fedexdelij2007@live.fr)
)
PHONE NUMBER: +22997933-530
Please send them your contacts information to enable them locate you imme=
diately they arrived in your country with your BOX. This the information =
they need from you in order to deliver your box to your=20
address.
*1.YOUR FULL NAME:
*2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS=20
*3 YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:=C2=A0=C2=A0=20
*4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE:
*5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE:=C2=A0=20
=C2=A0
Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director general Fedex =
Company world wild in Benin Mr JOSEPH UGO. with the address given to you.=
Note.The fedex company here don't know the contents of the Box. your pack=
age was register as family valuables,They don't know it=20
contents money to avoid them delaying with the Box. Please don't let them=
to know that the contents of the Box is money to avoid them from delayin=
g with the box. I am waiting for your urgent response. Meanwhile the only=
fee you have to pay them is $155 USD they will use to obtain insurance c=
ertificate and claims of affadvite that will prove the box that consist t=
otal sum of $1.5MILLION,belongs to you.
Be rest assure that all other fees have been paid by me.I am waiting for =
your urgent response.
=C2=A0
Thanks
Mr.johnson.

=C2=A0

=C2=A0

=C2=A0

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam