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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "registration 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. )
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +22993234986 (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.
  • westafrica_courierbenin@fastermail.com

Fraud email example:

From: Ikero Emeka <ikeroemeka3@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:08:46 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Good News for you. Contact him immediately.


Attn; My Dear Kimberley Blackburn,

Good day, How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the registration fee for your Cheque Draft to Courier Company And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Dr. William Koffi the Director of Financial Capital Trust Bank told me that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire.

So I told him to cash the USD$1,200,000.00, One Million Two hundred thousand United State Dollars to cash payment to avoid losting this funds. However,all the necessary arrangement of delivering the USD$1,200,000.00 One Million One hundred thousand United State Dollars )in cash was made with WEST AFRICA COUIER COMPANY here in Cotonou Benin Republic,

Mr. William Koffi, the Director of Financial Capital Trust Bank Cotonou have to package the sum of USD$1,200,000.00 in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me to Register the Package with WEST AFRICA COURIER COMPANY. Infact I thank God very much for all the movement I made, every thing goes normally.

As for our agreement with the West Africa Courier Company, they promised that your Package will leave this Country on any moment from now, But the Director of the WEST AFRICA COURIER COMPANY said that they need your contacts informations to able them meet up with you immediately the Diplomat Agent arrived to your Country.

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

ATTN: MR. NELSON UDEH
TEL; +229-9323-4986
EMAIL: westafrica_courierbenin@fastermail.com

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

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS
3. YOUR HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER
4. YOUR OFFICE OR MOBILE TELEPHONE
5. YOUR NEAREST AIR PORT
6. A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

Please make sure you send this needed informations to the Director general of West Africa Courier Company DR.NELSON UDEH with the address given to you.

Note.The WEST AFRICA COURIER COMPANY don't know the contents of the Package Box. I registered it as a BOX of an Photographic Materials. 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.

Thanks and Remain Blessed.

Mr Ikero Emeka

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam