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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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.

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. )
  • "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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:24:05 +0200
Subject: $USD4.200.000.00 HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.



ATTN PLEASE,
WE HAVE THIS MONTH RECEIVED A PAYMENT CREDIT INSTRUCTION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF BENIN REPUBLIC TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT FROM THE BENIN REP RESERVE ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK. THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR FUNDS $USD4.200.000.00 HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) SO OUR METHOD OF PAYMENT IS BY DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE THROUGH UPS SERVICES SHIPPING COMPANY LTD. BE INFORM THAT YOUR FUNDS HAVE BEEN PACKAGE LIKE A CONSIGNMENT BOX AND DEPOSITED IN THE CUSTODY OF UPS BRANCH BENIN FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY,BE CLEARIFY THAT THE REASON WHILE UPS SERVICES IS CHOOSEN FOR THE DELIVERY IS THAT THEY ARE THE BEST SHIPPING COMPANY IN THE WORLD AND OUR GOVERNMENT HAS SENT MESSAGE TO YOUR GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE ARRIVAL OF YOUR PARCEL TO YOUR COUNTRY.  NOTE:IF I MAY ASK TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE COLLECTED YOUR IMMUNITY SEAL OF DELIVERY AND A COPY OF IDENTIFICATION RECORD OF APPROVAL INFORM OF INHERITAGE APPROVAL CERTIFICATE FROM THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF BENIN, WHICH HAVE TO BACK UP THE DELIVERY OF YOUR FUND FOR SECURITY REASONS AS STATED BY UPS COMPANY LTD.
IF YOU HAVE NOT COLLECTED IT BEAR IN MIND THAT IT IS VERY NECESSARY IT WILL GUARD THE DIPLOMATIC AGENT OF UPS SECURITY COMPANY TO YOUR HOUSE WITHOUT ANY HITCH AND TO AVOID NEED OF CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FROM DIFFERENCE MINISTRIES, NOTE THAT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE TOTAL SUM OF USD$105 FOR THE OBTAINANCE OF THE COPY OF
IDENTIFICATION RECORD OF APPROVAL BEFORE YOUR FUND DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED SUCESSFULLY WITHIN 48 HOURS AS SAID BY UPS COMPANY BENIN AND THE DIRECTOR ASSURED TO SEND YOUR PACKAGE TRICKING NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND THEY OBTAIN THE PACKAGE AND IT DEPART TO YOUR COUNTRY.
BE ADVISED TO USE THE INFORMATION OUTLINE BELOW TO CONTACT UPS DIRECTLY SINCE I HAVE COMPLETED THE REGISTRATION OF YOUR FUND WITH THEM,BELOW IS THE INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM YOU BY UPS SERVICES TO ENABLE THEM DELIVER YOUR CONSIGNMENT SAFETY TO YOU.YOUR FULL
NAME,YOUR LOCATION ADDRESS,TELEPHONE NUMBERS/ MOBILE NUMBER
(UPS AUTHORIZED SERVICE CONTRACTOR)
LOCATION ,BP485 RUE DU GOVERNEUR FOURN CONTONOU BENIN
TELEPHONE _FAX 229-93-87-39CONTACT PERSON DR. LOPZ ADE.
E-mail; (ups_courierltd78@live.fr )  AS SOON AS YOU UPS OFFICE DO COMPLY WITH THEIR INSTRUCTIONS FOR URGENT REASON TO BE SURE THAT YOUR PACKAGE IS BEEN INCLUDED AMONG THE CONSIGNMENT DEPARTING WITH THEIR DIPLOMATIC AGENT TO YOUR COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY DO HAVE A NICE DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY.
SIGNED BY
BARRISTER MICHAEL ATELI.
SENIOR ADVOCATE BENIN FEDERAL HIGH COURT SAB.  THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR FUNDS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam