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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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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:

• 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:
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +22993132372 (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.
  • fedex_expresscompany_2000@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:07:41 +0100
Subject: Hello,


Hello,

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank
Draft of $1.5Million United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you
since that time. Then I went to the bank to confirm if the draft has expired
or getting near to expire and Mr. Justin Yayi the Director Bank of Africa
told me that before the draft will get to your hand that it will expire.

So I told him to cash the $1.5Million USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash
payment to avoid losing this funds under expiration as I will be out out of
the country for a 6 Months Course and I will not come back till end of Nov
2008.

The only money you will send to the Courier Company to deliver your
Consignment direct to your postal Address in your country is ($155.00 US)
One Hundred & Fifty Five United States Dollars only being Security Keeping
Fee of the Courier Company so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay
any other money except $155.00 US Dollars. I would have paid that but they
said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of
demurrage.

Contact Person: Dr. Peterson Brwon Email Address:
(fedex_expresscompany_2000@yahoo.com.hk)
Tel/FAX: +229 9313 2372

Note this. The FEDEX COURIER SERVICE company don't know the contents of the
Box. I registered it as a Gift item and Personal belongs. They did not know
the contents was money. this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don?t
let them know that box contents money ok. I am waiting for your urgent
response.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr Donald Collins

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam