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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. RICHARD WHITE." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dhlcouriercompany999@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2013 18:08:26 +0100
Subject: DATE: AUGUST 3RD 2013.

Attention: Dear Beneficiary,

We the management of Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) are hereby to notify you about transfer of your (US$3,500,000.00) Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars and inability to meet up with some charges levied against you due to the past transfer options, we ordered our Foreign Payment Remittance Unit to issue you ATM MASTER CARD where your fund will be uploaded and today, we got notice that your fund has been uploaded inside the ATM MASTER CARD and I took and registered it with DHL Company for delivery to your designated address.

For your information, the delivery charge has been paid and they were supposed to ship your packaged ATM MASTER CARD but they insisted that you must re-confirm to them your current delivery address to ensure accurate Delivery. MOST IMPORTANT: Due to the content of the package, DHL mandated that before your package will be shipped, A Tax/Security Keeping Fee MUST be procured according to the New Customs Creed and the importance of such Document is to ensure a hitch-free delivery and the amount is US$250.00 (Two Hundred And Fifty United States Dollars) only. Therefore re-confirm your current delivery address as listed below:

(1) Full Name.............
(2) Country/City/State/Name.............
(3) Delivery Address.........
(4) Occupation.............
(5) Marital Status/Age/Sex..................
(6) Age.................
(7) Telephone/Fax Number...........
(8) A Cope of Your Passport/ Drivers Licenses........................

Contact Person: Dr. James Brown (Director General)
DHL Express Courier Company Contoun Benin Republic
Plot No. 01 BP 2163. Cotonou
Telephone Number: +229 6856 6613
Email :(dhlexpresscouriercompany@r7.com)

Please hurry now as your package might attract more charges if it stays more than 3days with DHL.

Thanks,

MR. RICHARD WHITE.
FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF (ECOWAS).

Anti-fraud resources: