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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk box" (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. )
  • "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 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.
  • +22998563511 (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.
  • topchronodelivery@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:31:07 +0200
Subject: Your package registration No,27.2KGXX5


=C2=A0

=C2=A0

Attn;my dear friend.

I have been sending you email but its keep on returning.Dr.Willson told m=
e that before the draft will get to your hand,that it will expire.So I to=
ld him to help me
cash the $840,000.00USD(Eight hundred and fourty thousand only) in cash=C2=
=A0 to avoid loosing this funds under expiration because my BOSS whom ins=
tructed me to send the drafted cheque as your compensaction is no more in=
this country.Bank advised me to go through DIPLOMATIC means because Gove=
rnment of this Country will not allow any bank to transfer the total fund=
into USA ACCOUNT.That is the reasons I was directed to transfer the fund=
to you through courier company.

I paid for the delivering charges.Do not let Mr.Fredrick Sanchez know the=
real content to avoid them not run away with your fund.I registered the =
package as a sample of clothes you want to distribute to all your cutomer=
s. (Now what you need to do is=C2=A0 to Send your=C2=A0 below information=
,Your
=C2=A0Full Name,,,
Mailing Address,,,
AGE,,
Driver Lisence,,,,
to the below Contact Person: Fredrick Sanchez(Director Of TopChrono)
E-mail Address,(topchronodelivery@hotmail.fr )=20
Telephon number:+229 98563511.
=C2=A0
Include Your package registration No,27.2KGXX5 and deposited Date,20th Oc=
t 2008.I have retired and I will not longer stay in this Country Benin,I =
will move out of this Country next tomorrow with my family to JAPAN.So Ca=
ll Dr.Marthins Dave(EcoBank Accountant Officer,phone,0022993890618)for th=
e key of the TRUNK BOX because they advised me not to send the key throug=
h thesame Courier Company for security
reasons.Meanwhile,I plead him to send it to you incase you need the key b=
efore the delivery.=20
=C2=A0
Good Luck,=20
Faithfull.
MR.BENARD KALU.

=C2=A0

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam