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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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 "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.
  • +22997845330 (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.
  • globaltrustcompany00@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: office file<officefile@freenet.de>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:44:56 +0200
Subject: CONTACT GLOBAL TRUST COMPANY FOR DELIVERING OF YOUR PACKAGE



(BARR PAUL IKENNA & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY

COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN


Good day, how are you today? I am
writing to inform you that I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft.
And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting
near to expire and Mr.chima obinna the Director of Financial Trust Bank
told me that before the cheque will get to your hand, that it will
expire. So I told him to cash the $850,000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS
to cash payment to avoid losting this funds.However, all the necessary
arrangement of delivering the $850,000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS in
cash was made with GLOBAL TRUST COMPANY here in Cotonou Benin
Republic,Mr.chima obinna the Director of Financial Trust Bank Cotonou
have to package the sum of $850,000.00 USD in cash for me. Then he also
agreed to help me to Register the Consignment with GLOBAL TRUST COURIER
COMPANY so now you are to contact them


to know when they will deliver
your package .I have paid for the delivering
charges and insurance fee.
The only money you have to send to them is there
security keeping fee
which is $97.00 Us Dollars to received your
package.Don\'t be deceived
by any body This is there Contact Address
Contact Dr. JIM NKOH Director
Global Trust Company Benin Republic.


E-mail;(globaltrustcompany00@yahoo.fr ) Phone number
229-93054889OR
+22997845330

contact them with your full information ok.
Full
name......................
Home
address.....................
Telphone...............
Age.....................
Sex................

Your
package registration number ---------EM 8707439
I gave them your
delivery address but you have to reconfirm it to them
again to avoid any
mistake on the delivery.

Note. The Global Security Company BENIN
REPUBLIC don\'t let them know that is money that is in the Box. I
registered it as a Box of an FAMILY VALUABLES. They don\'t know it
contents money. this is to avoid them delaying with the Box. don\'t let
them know what is contains. I am waiting for your urgent response.You
can even call the Director of Global Security Company with this line
229-930-54889.Let me know immediately you receive your Consignment. as
soon as you receive your package
Thanks
Barr.Paul Ikenna

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam