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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
  (+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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("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)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• 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.
  • +22997020249 (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.
  • apcourier@netcourrier.com
  • apexofficebj@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:41:48 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION


Cotonou Benin Republic
To All Beneficiaries
FROM THE DESK OF:
REV: PETER JR

FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Attention:
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your lottery inheritance file and found out that why you have not received your inheritance Bank Draft payment is because you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect of your lottery/inheritance Bank Draft payment. Secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with none officials in the bank in all your attempt to secure the release of the fund to you. I wish to advise you that such an illegal act have to stop if you wish to receive your payment since we have decided to bring a solution to your problem. Right now we have arranged your payment through our swift Apex Diplomatic Courier Inconjuction with the USA High Commission to carry out immediate release of your fund in satify Bank Draft, that is the latest instruction from the President federal Republic of BENIN.

So the Instruction have be pass to Apex Diplomatic Courier to carry out the Delivery $1,300,000.00 US Dollars Bank Draft in your favour and all the necessary arrangement of delivering of the $1,300,000.00 Bank Draft was made with Apex Diplomatic Courier Company Benin Republic.

Please write to them with your contact details with given address below.
Dr.Nelson Febian
EMAIL: apcourier@netcourrier.com
EMAIL: apexofficebj@sify.com
Phone 00229 97020249

Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your Bank Draft .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--------------------------
6.YOUR AGE----------------------------------------
7.COUNTRY------------------------------------------

Best regards
Rev: Peter

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam