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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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:
  • "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. )
  • "are expected to pay " (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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +22998337327 (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.
  • infousaembassy11@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: barr dudu musa <zm225kzszx@testzimbra.com>
Reply-To: barr dudu musa <infousaembassy20@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:23:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Greeting from USA Embassy,


U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , DC 20520 Greeting from USA Embassy,

THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS

ATTENTION:

This is to notify you that your consignment has been in our custody waiting for your comply before the delivery will be effected to your delivery address. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your consignment box which
Courier Company suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by US Department of State Bureau and requesting for clearanc
e certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the consignment box before it will be released.

As a result of you not comply within duration given by Benin Government that is the reason the consignment box was diverted to treasury.All the walfare of United States Citizen is my consine. Am here to take the protocol of all our citizens to not be cheated by Africans. After the meeting held by our boad of director which was concluded that the delivery of your consignment to your address must be complete

within three working days upon your comply to our requirement which is by sending the sum of $99.00 to enable us obtain the needed certificate and effect with the delivery of your consignment immediately. Note that your consignment bo has been arrived in US embassy and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is given. Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to
avoid delivery to wrong person.

1, Your full name

2, Your home address

3, Your occupation

4, Direct Telephone Number

Once you notify us with the above information we will release your consignment to you,Contact the Embassy Office Direct with the following information Below,Contact person, Mr. Fedrick Bush
Phone +229 98 33 73 27Email (infousaembassy11@gmail.com)

Note that you are expected to pay only $99.00 for clearance certificate and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the consignment box infavour of Mr Chris Bala as our accountant officer in Benin Republic Send the $99.00 through western unionor Money Gram once you receive this mail with the
information below for immediate release ofyour consignment box,

Receivers Name:?????????? Elias Igbanu

Country: ?????????? Benin Republic

City??????????????????Cotonuo

Test Question:?????????? who is the receiver?

Answer :?????????? Elias
Amount: ?????????? $99.00

Once you send the money, try to notify us with the MTCN for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your consignment. Please treat this as matter of urgency .Note that any uncliam consignment will be return to the CourierCompany after 3 days for final divertion. So you are urgently advise to co
mply with our demand so that we will release your consignment.

Regard,
Mr Fedrick Bush,
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
FROM UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam