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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found 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. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22993646011 (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.
  • globalexpresscouriercompnyplc@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: jim amando <jimaman54@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <jim1amando@o2.pl>
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:49:29 +0100
Subject: Contact The Globalcourier Company



Jim .A. Adams & Councelors at Law.06 BP 1409 Akpakpa Dodomey,Cotonou Republic Du BeninDear Friend, I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft but did not hear from you since that time ,then I went and deposited your cheque with Global Express Courier Company here in Benin Republic ,because I will be traveling to Iraq to see my boss and will not come back till next month end. You have to contact the Global Express Courier Company to know when they will deliver your package and send you tracking number. I have paid for the delivery charges and insurance fee. The only money you have to send to them is their security keeping fee which is $95.00 Us Dollars to received your package. Don't be deceived by any body, here is their Contact Address: Dr.FRANKLIN MUSA.Director Global Express Courier Company Benin Republic.E-mail: globalexpresscouriercompnyplc@yahoo.co.uk Phone number: +229-9364 6011 Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fee.I gave them your delivery address but you have to re-confirm it to them again to avoid any mistake in the delivery. Let me know as soon as you receive your Draft . ThanksBarrister ,Dr Jim.A.Adams.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam