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:

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:
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +2348129968546

Fraud email example:

From: " Mrs. Catherine Melissa " <officefileb@aol.de>
Reply-To: dhl.couriercompanyonline@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:21:55 -0800
Subject: CONTACT DHL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR PENDING PACKAGE
RIGESTERED 22ND MARCH, 2014

- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. -

Good day, How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have paid the fees for your check. And I went to the bank to confirm if the check has expired or getting near to expire and Mr. Stanley White the Director of Eko Bank told me that before the check will get to your hand that it will expire.

So I told him to cash the $1.5, Millions UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losing this fund. However, all the necessary arrangement of Delivering the $1.5, Millions UNITED STATES DOLLARS in cash was made with DHL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY here in Lagos Nigeria.

Mr. Stanley White the Director of Eko Bank Cotonou has to package the sum of $1.5, Millions in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me to register the Consignment with DHL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY. In fact I thank God very much for all the movement I made, every thing goes normally.

As for our agreement with the Dhl Courier company they promised that your consignment will leave this Country by weekend this week, But the Director of the
DHL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY said that they need your contacts information?s to able them meet up with you immediately the Diplomatic Agent arrived to your
Country.

DHL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY Lagos, Nigeria
EMAIL ADRESS: (
dhl.couriercompanyonline@
gmail.com

)
TELEPHONE:
(+2348129968546
)

CONTACT PERSON: SAMUEL OKO

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.

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4. YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5. A
COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

Please make sure you send this needed info's to the Director General of Dhl Express Company Lagos DR .SMAUEL OKO with the address given to you.

Note. The Dhl Express Company Benin doesn?t know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a BOX of Africa cloths. They don't know it contents money. This
is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don?t let them know that is money that is in that Box.

I am waiting for your urgent response.

You can even call the Director of Dhl Express Company Lagos with this line: (+2348129968546)
Thanks and Remain Blessed.

Mrs. Catherine Melissa

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam