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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:42:04 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT.


Hello Dear,
 
I have registered your certified Cheque Draft with fedex courier company.but the manager of financial Bank of Africa Benin Rep. told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire.So i told him to cash $1.500,000.00 all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1million five hundred thousand dollars.($1.5m usdollars) in cash was made with FEDEX DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY.This is the information they need to deliver your package to you.with FEDEX DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY, contact them now.
 
BELOW IS THE FEDEX DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY INFORMATION'S.
NAME:FEDEX COURIER DELIVERING COMPANY.
ATTANTION: PERSON: PROF. ABEL MARTINS.
POSITION: FOREIGN DELIVERY DEPARTMENT.
ADDRESS: COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
E-MAIL:(fedexcustomercareservice2@live.fr).
TELEPHONE:0022997918299.
 
Please, Send them your contacts information to enable 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.
 
Note that this is their E-mail contact (fedexcustomercareservice2@live.fr).
Please make sure you send this needed informations to the Director general of FEDEX DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC, PROF.ABEL MARTINS with the address given to you.
Note. The Fedex Delivery Courier Company don't know the contents of the Box except the director. I registered it as a Box of an African traditional wears. They don't know it contains money. this is to avoid them delaying with the Box.don't let them know that is money that is in that Box.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Tony Conrad Rex .
 

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam