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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "clearance certificate" (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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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.
  • +22997932215 (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.
  • nom.nom@laposte.net

Fraud email example:

From: "ka.jones10" <ka.jones10@laposte.net>
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:49:00 +0100 (CET)
Subject: I HAVE SENT IT. YOU HAVE TO CONTACT THEM


Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year!!!
Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirmable check of $200.000.00 United States Dollars, after you were unable to come up with the shipping fees,but I did not hear from you since that time.Then I went and deposited the Check with EMS COURIER SERVICE, West Africa,I would travelled out of the country for a 3Months Course and I will not come back till end of March 2008.

What you have to do now is to contact the EMS COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your check to you because of the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charges, Insurance premium fees and Clearance Certificate Fees of the Check showing that it is not a Drug Money.
The only money you will send to the EMS COURIER SERVICE to deliver your Check direct to your postal Address in your country is ($120.00 USD)Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee for the check of the Courier Company so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $120.00 US Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no! because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demourrage.
You have to contact the EMS COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Check with this information below:
Director General EMS Express West Africa Mr. Charles Martins
Email Address: ems.delivery@deportista.com
Tel: +22997932215
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number after you must have sent the fees of $120.00 dollars for the Security fees to enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your address.
Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this email to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $120.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.
You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your check.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Katherine Jones

Créez votre adresse électronique prénom.nom@laposte.net
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam