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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:

• 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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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 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.
  • +22997914480 (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.couriercompany02@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "johnedward01 Gazeta.pl" <johnedward01@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:51:00 +0200
Subject: Goodday!


Goodday!
I have Expected you to contact me for your Certified Bank Draft of
(US$1.5Million U.S Dollars) United States Dollars, but did not hear from
you. Then I went to the bank to confirm if the Bank draft has expired and
Mr.James Adams the Director of Bank of Africa told me that before the draft
will get to your Home Address will be expired. So I told him to cash the
(US$1.5Million U.S Dollars)USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash payment to
avoid your funds to expiration as I will be out of the country for a 3
Months Course and I will not come back till ending of May 2008.

You have to contact FEDEX DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY BENIN to know when they
will deliver your Consignment to you. For your information, They accepted
cash on delivery C.O.D But insisted that the security fee most be paid
before the delivery will be effected. So the only money you will send to the
FEDEX DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY BE NIN to deliver your Consignment direct
to your postal Address in your country is ($105.00 US) One Hundred and Five
United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee accumulated so far.

Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $105.00 US
Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know
when you will contact them.You have to contact FEDEX DIPLOMATIC COURIER
COMPANY BENIN now for the delivery of your consignment Box with this
information below;
Directors Name: Rev. Maxwell Shargan
Companys Name: FEDEX DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY BENIN
Telephone.......+229-979-144-80.
Email Address: fedex.couriercompany02@yahoo.fr<http://fr.mc234.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?fid=Draft&mid=1_35041_AGG9ktkAADoOSFhUmwRp4nO0a2U&draft=1&uc=1&.rand=1663226731>


Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct
telephone number to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to send
your airway bill and keep you updated on the arrival of your consignment Box
and know when it will get to your address. Let me re peat a gain, try to
contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay or
increase in the Security Keeping Fee and remember to pay them their Security
Keeping fee of $105.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.

NOTE. The FEDEX DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY BENIN don't know the contents of
the Box.I registered it as a BOX of Africa cloths. They don't know the
contains United States dollars in Cash. this is to avoid them delaying with
the BOX. Dont let them know that box contains money please. Finally,
Endaevour to indicate this CODE (FD0081) which will prove that you are the
owner of the Consignment i deposited in there company, Hoping you had a
happy christmas and new year season.

Yours Faithfully,
BARRISTER *John Edward*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam