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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:
  • "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. )
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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 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.
  • +22993892805 (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.
  • fedexcouriercompanyltd50@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "17 17" <charleseze82@livedoor.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:55:16 +0100
Subject: Good Day.


Good Day.

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank
Draf of $1,500,000.00 Million United States Dollars, but I did not hear from
you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER
COMPANY, Cotonou, Benin Republic before I travelled out of the country for a
Course.

What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER 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 delive
your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($105.00 US)one
hundred Fifty United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the
Courier Company sofar. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other
money except $150.00 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 FEDEX COURIER COMPANY now for
the delivery of your Draft with this information bellow;

Contact Person:Steve Martins
Email Address: fedexcouriercompanyltd50@yahoo.fr
Phone:+229 938 928 05

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm the following infomation 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.

The infomations are;
1.YOUR FULL NAME;
2.YOUR AGE;
3.HOUSE/OFFICE ADDRESS
4.HOUSE / OFFICE PHONE NOS
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICT FOR IDDENTIFICATION.

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
$105.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.Do let know immediately you
recieves your package.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr,Charles Eze.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam