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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • info_abcexpresscompany200@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "athony_ben20 Gazeta.pl" <athony_ben20@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:04:04 +0200
Subject: CONTACT DIRECTOR A.B.C DELIVERY COMPANY MR FRANK JUNIOR


Dear Friend,

Greetings!
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank
Draft of $800.000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you
since that time.
Then I went and deposited the Draft with ABC Security & Express Courier
Company, Cotonou, Benin Republic before I travelled out of the country for a
3 Months Course and I will not come back till end of JULY .

What you have to do now is to contact the ABC Express Courier & Security
Company as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to
you because of the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the
delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the
Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist
attack in your Country.
The only money you will send to the Courier & Security Company to deliver
your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($250.00 US) two
hondred and fifty United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of
the Courier Company so far.

Again, don't be deceived by any body to pay any other money except $250.00
US Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know
when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.
You have to contact the ABC Express Courier & Security Company now for the
delivery of your Draft with this information bellow;
Contact Person: Dr FRANK M JUNIOR
EmailAddress:(info_abcexpresscompany200@yahoo.fr)

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct
telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask
them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over
there and know when it will get to your address.
Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to
avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee
of $250.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.

Yours Faithfully,
MR ANTHONY BEN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam