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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:
  • "registration fee" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993154574 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "mike peter" <mikepeter5@xakep.ru>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:17:31 +0200
Subject: GOOD NEWS.


ATTN MY DEAR,

Good day, How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the
registration fee for your Cheque Draft. And I went to the bank to confirm if
the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Mr.Ahmed Zafa the
Director of Financial ZENETH BANK told me that before the cheque will get to
your hand that it will expire.
So I told him to cash the $800.000 eight HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES
DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losting this funds.However, all the
necessary arrangement of delivering the $800.000 EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATES DOLLARs )in cash was made with GLOBAL TRUST COUIER COMPANY
COURIER COMPANY here in Cotonou Benin Republic,

Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Trust Bank Cotonou have to package
the sum of $800.000.00 in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me to
Register the Consignment with GLOBAL TRUST COUIEIR COURIER COMPANY. Infact I
thank God very much for all the movement I made, every thing goes normally.

As for our agreement with the GLOBAL TRUST Courier company they promised
that your consignment will leave this Country on monday next week,But the
Director of the GLOBAL TRUST COURIER COMPANY said that they need your
contacts informations to able them meet up with you immediately the Diplomat
Agent arrived to your Country.
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.

ATTN: GEN DR. NELSON UDO
TEL; 00229-93154574
EMAIL:fedexshippingcompaycustomercare@live.fr<EMAIL%3Afedexshippingcompaycustomercare@live.fr>

Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what they
need from you.
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

Please make sure you send this needed informations to the Director general
of GLOBAL TRUST Courier Company Dr.NELSON UDO with the address given to
you.
Note.The GLOBAL TRUST courier company don't know the contents of the Box. I
registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents
money. this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. don't let them know that
is money that is in that Box.
I am waiting for your urgent response.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.

MR Mike Peter.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam