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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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +22993686283 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: fedex.courierservicesbenin@live.fr
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 18:51:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY BENIN


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:solomonkelvin16@yahoo.com.co



- Good day! How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft. And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Mrs Sandra Matthew the Director of Central Bank of West African States(BCEAO) told me that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told her to cash the (US$2.5Million U.S Dollars) to cash payment to avoid losting this funds. However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the (US$2.5Million U.S Dollars) in cash was made with FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. in Cotonou Benin Republic,Be inform that the only money you are going to pay is the SECURITY KEEPING FEE OF $150.00 Dollars only which is the offical keeeping fee of your consignment. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $150.00.Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will be contacting them for the delivery so You have to contact FEDEX COURIER COMPANY BENIN now for the delivery of your consignment Box with this information below; Directors Name: Rev. Maxwell Vanna.Telephone. +229-9368-6283Email:(fedex.courierservicesbenin@live.fr) Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and direct telephone number to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to send your airway bill and keep you updated on the arrival of your consignment Box and know when it will get to your address. Let me re peat a gain, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay or increase in the Security Keeping Fee and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $150.00US for their immediate action. NOTE. The FEDEX DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY BENIN doesn't know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a BOX of Africa cloths. They don't know the contains this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don't let them know that the box contains money please. Finally, Endeavour to indicate this CODE (FD0081) which you will prove that you are the owner of the Consignment.Yours Faithfully,Mr.Solomon Kelvin.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam