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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barr." (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. )
  • "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 "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.
  • +22998349833 (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.
  • fedexoficebenin@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr Eustace" <barreustace@rediffmail.com>
Date: 27 Jul 2008 14:31:07 -0000
Subject: Contact FedEx Courier Company for your Cashier Cheque.


Hello Friend,
Compliment of the day to you and your family. How are you doing today, Hope you have not forgotten me? I am Barr. Eustace Ibuzo Colin, from Benin republic who contacted you some time ago to assist me secure the release of some money accrued from the over owning invoicing of an Oil contract/inheritance that was awarded by my government some time ago.
Though you were not able to assist me conclude the transaction, I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transfered under the assistance and co-operation of a new partner from Poland, Presently i'm in India for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.
Meanwhile, i didn't forget your past advice, efforts and attempts to assist me in getting those funds, I made sure you are not left out the benefit of the transaction hence I kept aside for you the sum of Nine hundred and Fify thousand United State Dollars (USD$950,000.00) Bank Cashier Cheque.
I and my new partner agreed to compensate you with that amount for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciate your efforts at that time very much. Therefore, get in touch with FedEx Courier Company where i deposited the cheque and instruct them on how to send the bank Cashier cheque to you, i left the cheque with them before i leave the country.
Please do let me know immediately you receive the cheque so that we can share the joy together after all the stress of the transaction at that time. In the moment, i'm very busy here because of the Oil Investment Projects which me and my partner are having at hands. So feel free to get intouch with FedEx Courier Company.
&nbsp;
I have paid for the yellow tag fee&nbsp; and delivery Charge.The only money you will send to the FedEx Express to deliver your Cheque direct to your postal Address in your country is US$106 One Hundred &amp; Six United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee for the Fedex Service . I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of dumourrage on your Package with them.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Please write a letter of application to the given address below and tell them my full name that i asked you to contact them for your cheque:Company Name: FedEx ExpressDirector: Dr.Nelson FabianEmail: fedexoficebenin@sify.com OR contactus1@fedexbj.com Contact Tel: +229 98 34 98 33
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your
1:Postal address,
2:nearest local and international airport,
3;Direct mobile telephone number
4:Full names
5:contact address id card to avoid wrong delivery, they will issue you a tracking #, to enable you track your Cheque and know when it will get to your address.
With Best Regards, Barr. Eustace Ibuzo Colin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam