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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:

• 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (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. )
• 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 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.
  • kanto.customerservices@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "barrister benjamin edward" <benjaminedward0@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 18:50:44 +0100
Subject: I HAVE RESGISTERED YOUR CERTIFIED CONSIGNMENT WITH FEDEX


Dear Friend,

How are you today? This is to thank you for your effort to help me in the
past. I understand that your hands were tied. Not to worry. I have succeeded
in getting the money transferred into the account provided by a newly found
friend of mine in Finland.

I am in Europe with my family presently. To compensate you for your past
assistance and commitments to me, I have made available 10% of the total
money which is $1.8M (ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED UNITED STATE DOLLARS) cash
for you. I made it cash because my account officer advice me to do so, he
said that since I will not be around, it will be safer to keep cash than to
keep check, because of the validity period of check which might expire
before you get the check and i will not be there to validate it.

I have, through the help of my account officer packaged the money in a
security proof box. The box was sealed with synthetic nylon seal and padded
with machine.It was deposited with FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY for safe
keeping, as (Sensitive Photographic Film Material), The Company does not
know the original contents of the box. What l declared to them as the
content is Sensitive Photographic Film Material, I did not declare money to
them please.

Also, note that I have paid the delivery fee in advance pending the time
you will contact them, so you don't have any problem. the only fee they will
ask you is their registration fee. I would have paid the registration fee
when I was paying for the delivery but they told me that if I pay it then,
the consignment will start accumulating demurrage for you so I left it
inorder for you not to pay extra money on it.

Below is the Deposit details

Deposit Number: PLCC-101-PL45
Sort/Clearance Code: PLC/101-45/P50
Deposit Certificate N0.: 405576
Consignment Description: 1 Box Sensitive Photographic Film Material
Depositor: Barrister:Edward Ben.

Make sure you quote the deposit details well to avoid misinformation.
Write an application and quote the deposit details to the given address
below.
Company:FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC
Contact Person: Mr Kanto Davis(Director)
Contact Email:(kanto.customerservices@gmail.com)

Forward your FULL NAME, HOME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER, and register with
them for immediate delivery of your package to your door step.
Take good care of your self.
Regards,
Barrister:Edward Ben.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam