419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
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)
- "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)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22998270398 (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.
- globalmaxcourier2002@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Eze A. Johnson" <kofiansah522@gmail.com>
Reply-To: globalmaxcourier2002@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2014 10:36:18 +0000
Subject: CONTACT GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CASH
PAYMENT OF $5,500,000.00

Good day, how are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have paid
the fee for your Draft. And I went to the bank to confirm if the draft has
expired or getting near to expire and Mr. Ahmed Zafa the Director of the
Bank told me that before the draft will get to your hand that it will
expired.

So I told him to cash the $5,500,000.00 (Five Million, Five Hundred
Thousand US Dollars) to cash payment to avoid losing this fund. However,
all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $5,500,000.00 (Five
Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) in cash was made with GLOBAL MAX
COURIER COMPANY here in Federal Republic of Benin Cotonou.

Mr. Ahmed Zafa the Director of the Bank here has to package the sum of
$5,500,000.00 USD in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me to
register the Consignment with GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY. Infarct I thank
God very much for all the movement I made, every thing went successfully.

As for our agreement with the Global Max Courier Company they promised that
your consignment will leave this Country on this week, But the Director of
the GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY said that they need your contacts
information's to enable them meet up with you immediately the Diplomat
Agent arrived to your Country. Please write a letter of application to the
given address below.

Contact Person.

Dr. Williams A. Ume

Email: globalmaxcourier2002@gmail.com

Telephone: +229-98270398

Please, Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX. This is what they
need from you.

1. YOUR FULL NAME

2. YOUR RECEIVING HOME ADDRESS.

3. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.

4. YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.

5. A SCANNED COPY OF YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE

Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director General
of Global Max Courier Company Dr. Williams Ume with the address given to
you.

Note. The Global Max courier company doesn't know the contents of the Box.
It was registered as a BOX containing Africa cloths. They don't know it
contains money. This is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don't let them
know that is money that is in that Box.

I am waiting for your urgent response.

Thanks and Remain Blessed.

Yours

Mr. Eze A. Johnson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam