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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• 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 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.
  • +22997532959 (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.
  • fedex_express_courier2001@yahoo.fr
  • 3afedex_express_courier2001@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "joiu Gazeta.pl" <joiu@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 18:00:24 +0200
Subject: CONTACT DHL TODAY FOR YOUR PACKAGE


FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER ,WILLIAMS GINIKA ESQ.
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FORGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.

Attn: Sir/Madam
The Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic.Are hereby to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of $850,000,00,after the meeting held on
14th of April 2008.His Exelence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN
DR YAYI BONI.has Instructed this department to send your package trunk box
for easier receive of your inherinted funds without any further
delay.toavoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through
the global.

You are required to send your name and address were you want your package
to be send to you, name and address bellow .
Beneficiarey name-------------
Address-----------------------
Tel phone---------------------
Country---------------------
Your Age---------------

Contact Dr George Akosa with this informations below:-818 .+229-97-53-29-59
EMAIL:fedex_express_courier2001@yahoo.fr<EMAIL%3Afedex_express_courier2001@yahoo.fr>

Forward the information immediately to the Fedex company today to enable
them send the package to you As soon as they confirm your address.
We await to urgent respond Please if you a are not the real beneficiary
dont respond or delite

Yours in service
WILLIAMS GINIKA
Financial Minister
Federal republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam