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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "registration fee" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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 "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.
  • +22993694991 (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.
  • fedexcouriercompany89@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jim peter<jimpeters1@freenet.de>
Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:44:29 +0200
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR PACKAGE


Dear Friend ,

Good day. How are you today? I am writing to inform you
that I have
Paid the registration fee for your CHEQUE which has been
with me for a long time. And I went to the bank to confirm if the draft
has expired or getting near to expire and Mr. Justin Yayi the Director
Bank of Africa told me that
before the draft will get to your hand, it
will expire. So I told him to cash the $950,000.00 united state dollarsS
to cash payment to avoid losing this funds under expiration.

However,
all the necessary arrangement for delivering the $950,000.00 united
state dollarsS in cash was made with FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY here
in Cotonou Benin Republic, Mr.Justin Yayi the Director of Bank of Africa
Cotonou, Benin republic has package the sum of $950,000.00 USD in cash
for you.

Then, he also help me to Register the Consignment with FEDEX
EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY. Infact, I thank God very much for all the

effort I made, every thing goes normally. As for our agreement with
the FEDEX EXRESS COURIER COMPANY they promised that your consignment
will leave this Country on or before 5 days from now, But the Director
of the FEDEX EXRESS COURIER COMPANY said that they need your contacts
information\'s to enable them meet up with you immediately the Diplomat
Agents arrived in your Country.
Please write a letter of application to
the given address below.

ATTN: DR EDWARD LYNN
Email: (
fedexcouriercompany89@yahoo.fr)
Tel + 229-93 69 4991

,please Send
them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately
they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what
they need from
you.

1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3 YOUR COUNTRY
4.YOUR
CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
6.A
COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION/ PICTURE.

Please make sure you send this
needed information to the Director general of
FEDEX EXRESS COURIER
COMPANY DR. EDWARD LYNN with the address given to you.

Note this.
FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANYdon\'t know the
contents of the Box. I
registered it as a BOX of Africa cloths. They
did not know the contents
was money. this is to avoid them delaying with the
BOX.

Don’t
let them know that box contents money ok. I am waiting for your urgent
response. You can even call the Director of FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER
COMPANY with this line: Tel+229-93 69 4991

Regards.
Mr. Jim
Peters.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam