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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:
  • "certificate 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. )
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "00,000.00" (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. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • +2348067589084 (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.
  • fedexinternationalpost2@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dang Duc Nhan" <ddnhan@mail.vaec.gov.vn>
Reply-To: sirbrainhurt@live.com
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:32:12 -1200
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX FOR YOUR CONFIRMABLE BANK DRAFT OF 800,000US DOLLARS



Hello Dear,
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable
Bank
Draft of $800,000.00 United States Dollars which I promised you, but I
did
not hear from you since that time.Then I went and deposited the Draft
with
FEDEX COURIER SERVICE, West Africa,because of my wife that said I should
not
compensate you. I have travelled out of the country for a 4Months Course
and
I will not come back till end of march,2009 What you have to do now is
to
contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible with the
registration
number(fdx0147)to know when They will deliver your package to you.

For your information I have paid for the delivery Charge,Insurance
premium
and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a
Drug
Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attacking your Country.The only
money
you
will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your Draft direct to
your
postal Address in your country is($100.00USD)Dollars only, being
Security
Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.

Again, don't be deceived by any body to pay any other money
except$100.00US Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because
they don't know when you will contact them and in case of deumurage.You
have
to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Draft
with
this information bellow;Contact Person:
Mr Victor Mark,
Email Address:fedexinternationalpost2@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone:+2348067589084 or +2348077062013

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct
telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and
ask
them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package
over
there and know when it will get to your address.Let me repeat again,try
to
contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay
and
remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $100.00 US Dollars
for
their immediate action. You should also let me know through via email as
soon
as you receive your bank Draft.

Yours Faithfully,
Sir. Brain Hurt

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam