419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "security keeping 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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "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)
- "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)
- "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)
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.
- +22999111962 (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.
- emsexpressc@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?Q?=D1=81=D0=B5=D0=BA=D1=80=D0=B5=D1=82=D0=B0=D1=80=D1=8C?=
<departmentofficefile@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: emsexpressc@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 17:11:26 +0300
Subject: CONTACT EMS COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT.

Hello Friend,

Good day,how are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the delivery and Insurance premium fee for your Draft which has been with me for a long time. And I went to the bank to confirm if the draft has expired or getting near to expiring date, and Mr. Justin Yayi the Director, Bank of Africa, told me that before the draft will get to you, that it will expire. So I told him to cash the $2.5 Million U.S DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losing this funds under expiration as I will be out out of the country for a 4 Months Course and I will not come back till ending of September 2012.

However, all the necessary arrangement for delivering the $2.5 Million U.S Dollars in cash was made with EMS COURIER COMPANY here in Cotonou Benin Republic, Mr.Justin Yayi the Director of Bank of Africa Cotonou has package the sum of $2.5 Million USD in cash for you. Then he also helped me to Register the Consignment with EMS COURIER COMPANY.

Infact I thank God very much for all the effort I made, every thing went normal. As for our agreement with the EMS COURIER COMPANY, they promised that your consignment will leave this Country as soon as you contact and finalise with them, But the Director of the EMS COURIER COMPANY said that they need your contacts information's to enable them meet up with you immediately the Diplomat Agents arrive in your Country.

The only money you will send to the EMS COURIER COMPANY to deliver your Consignment direct to your postal Address in your country is ($205.00 US) One Hundred & Five United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far, I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.

Please write a letter of application to the given address below:

EMS COURIER COMPANY
Contact person: Dr.Don Wood
Tel/FAX: +229 99 11 19 62
Email: (emsexpressc@yahoo.com)

Reconfirm your contact information to enable them locate you immediately they arrive in your country with your bOX .

1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5:OCCUPATION:

Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director General of EMS COURIER COMPANY Benin Republic, Dr.Don Wood with the address given to you. N.B. The EMS COURIER COMPANY don't know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a BOX of African TEXTILES. They did not know that the contents was money. This is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don't let them know that the content of the box is money, They are waiting for your urgent response.

Regards,
Mr.Johson Willaims.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam