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:
- "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)
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "dhl.c_deliverycom@foxmail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Williams K. Lampard" <jocelyne.mic77@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dhl.c_deliverycomp@foxmail.com
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 12:10:42 -0700
Subject: Urgent contact dhl courier delivery company turkish republic for your
consignment box.

Attention:,

How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have paid the fee
for your ATM Card. And I went to the bank to confirm if the ATM Card
has expired or getting near to the expiry date and Mr. Kenneth Godwin,
the Director of Central Bank of cyprus of turkish republic(BCOTR) told me
that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire.

So I told him to cash the $3.5Million US DOLLARS to cash payment to
avoid losing the funds. However, all the necessary arrangement of
delivering the $3.5Million US DOLLARS in cash was made with DHL
COURIER DELIVERING COMPANY LTD. in Turkish Republic, Mr. Kenneth
Godwin; the Director of Central Bank of cyprus of turkish republic (BCOTR)
Turkish,Famagusta City had to package the sum of $3.5Million US
DOLLARS in cash for
you.

Then he also agreed to help me to Register the Consignment with DHL
COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY LTD. In fact I'm happy that every arrangement
I made was successful. As for our agreement with the DHL COURIER
DELIVERY COMPANY LTD they promised that your consignment Box will
Depart Turkish Republic this week, But the Director of the DHL COURIER
COMPANY LTD. said that they need your contact information to able them
meet up with your Delivery immediately the Diplomat Agent arrived to
your Country.

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

ATTN: Mr. Frank Edward
EMAIL: (dhl.c_deliverycom@foxmail.com)

Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with yourBOX. This is what
they need from you.

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3. YOUR CURRENT HOME/MOBILE TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4. YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5. A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
6. NEAREST AIRPORT
The only money you will pay DHL COURIER COMPANY is $75 only for their
keeping fee of your consignment Box you can email them now with your
full contact details and also tell them to tell you how send them
their security keeping fee.

Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director
General of DHL SHIPMENT COMPANY LTD, with their address given stated
above.

Note.DHL SHIPMENT COMPANY LTD. doesn't know the contents of the Box. I
registered it as a BOX of europian CRAFT WORKS. They don't know it
contents money. This is to avoid them delaying the BOX Delivery. Don't
let them know that its money that is in that Box.

You call the Director of the company with this line: +905338759607
Immediately.

Thanks and Remain Blessed,
Mr. Williams K. Lampard.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam