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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: jamesessiena@mobimail.mn
Reply-To: qstvtrust01@live.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 16:53:52 -0700
Subject: Warmest Information 33


Warmest Information

Dearest,

Good day, my friend. I am sending this message in respect of a consignment
that was kept in custody of our bondage security vault bearing a tag
identification of your name as the approved next of kin to the deposited
inheritance, which supposed to have been delivered to you since long time
ego.


My name is Mr. James Essien, a storage attendant in charge of the security
vault of the above security company in Accra Ghana. From my record, I
discovered that this consignment was among other consignments supposed to
have been delivered through Ecowas Diplomatic courier unit but still on hold
for some logistic reasons.

During the verification process, this consignment of one trunk box was
discovered to contain some reasonable sum of money in 100-dollars bills. By
law and our company's rules and regulation, no staff should have access to
entire contents of any deposit except the original depositor, approved next
of kin, consignee or rightful beneficiary but I still kept this finding top
secret to my very self only.

Now, I will secretly arrange for immediate shipment of this consignment
abroad without disclosing to anybody.

1.To have a smooth and risk free transaction, you must agree, accept to keep
the entire transaction secret, information's must not be disclosed to any
third party for security reasons.

2.You must agree to compensate me with 20% of the total inheritance when
delivered and claimed by you.

3.No prepayments in form of documentations, shipment cost, demurrage,
insurance etc until final destination of the cargo where the handling
charges will be settled.

4.As soon as I receive your response towards the above stated terms, working
arrangement will be carried on immediately to ensure smooth delivery of the
consignment. I will attach my passport copy for close identification
including the picture of the content of your consignment.

NOTE: I need your contact telephone number. You should also confirm your
current residential / official address to avoid any wrong delivery.

Yours sincerely,
Mr. James Essien
Oasis Security company ltd. Ghana

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam