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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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)
  • "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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "keep it confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +22997662422 (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.
  • fedexspeedservicecompany@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mr_robert016@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:23:26 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?My=20Dear=20Good=20Friend=2C?=

My Dear Good Friend,

How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I went to the bank to
confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Mr.Ahmed
Zafa the Director of Central Bank of West African States(BCEAO) told me
that before the cheque will get
to your hand that it will expire.So I told him to cash the US$2.5MILLION
US DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losting this funds.However, all the
necessary arrangement of delivering the US$2.5MILLION US DOLLARS in cash
was made with FEDEX SPEED SERVICES COMPANY LTD. in Cotonou Benin Republic,please
make sure that you abide with their rules and regulation.

Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Central Bank of West African States(BCEAO)
Cotonou have already package the sum of
US$2.5MILLION US DOLLARS in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me
to Register the Consignment with FEDEX SPEED SERVICES COMPANY LTD. Infact
I'm happy that every movement I made went successfully.As for our agreement
with the FEDEX SPEED SERVICES COMPANY LTD. they promised that your consignment
will leave this Country on monday next week immediately after you have completed
all their neccessary requirement, But the Director of the FEDEX SPEED SERVICES
COMPANY LTD. said that they need your contacts informations to able them
meet up with you immediately the Diplomat Agent arrived in your Country
and you are required to write a letter of application to the given address
below.

ATTN: Mr.David Perez
TEl: +:229-9305-8015
EMAIL:fedexspeedservicecompany@yahoo.fr

Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately
they arrived in your country with your
CONSIGNMENT BOX. This is what they need from you and you should be aware
that before the dilomat will start coming to your
country, you will pay for the yellow tag and stamp fee before the diplomat
agent will start the journey with your consignment box.

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
6.YOUR OCCUPATION
7.YOUR MARRITIAL STATUS
8.YOUR STATE/COUNTRY/CITY

Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director general
of FEDEX Speed SERVICES Company LTD, with their
address given stated above.

Note. FEDEX SPEED SERVICES COMPANY LTD. don't know the contents of the Box,
I registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents
money so please keep it confidential until you receive the consignment box
in your doorstep. this is to avoid delaying of your consignment BOX. don't
let them know that the consignment box contain money inside the Box.

I am waiting for your urgent response. You can even call the Director of
the company with this line:+229-9766-2422

Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Mr. Robert Mark

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam