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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +229937739531 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: alex ok <alex_ok4@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <fedexexpresscourie@myway.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 00:27:57 +0100
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY



Attention, I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of Financial Trust Bank Plc Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire.So i told him to cash $950,000.00 all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $950,000.00 in cash was made with FEDEX EXPRESS COMPANY DIRECTOR. Below is the needed information to enable them deliver your fund to you immediately. the only fee you have to pay them is $95 usd that they will use to obtain insurance certificate and claims of affadvite that will prove that the parcel that consist total sum of $950.000.00 belong to you be rest assure that all other fees have been paid by me.
FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY PROFFESOR.IHEME WILLIAMSEMAIL:fedexexpresscourie@myway.comTelephone=====+229-93-7739531.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.COMPANY REGISTRATION NO__________________________4152HGMEXW 7.CODE NUMBER_______________________________________KMCD/BOWL/04152 Thanks and Remain Blessed. Mr Favouribe

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam