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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:

• 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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22997010015 (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.
  • upsonline95@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "marcel ben" <marcel_ben@klikni.cz>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 08:28:56 +0100
Subject: CONTACT UNITED PARCEL SERVICE COURIER FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT DELIVERY


Hello My dear,
I have been waiting for you since then to come down here and pick your
outstanding payment left but I did not hear from you since that time
as we fixed.
Then I went and deposited the $1,500 000.00 (One million,
five hundred thousand) US Dollars. I lodged the funds inside a Copper
box as Consignment with UNITED PARCEL SERVICE COURIER COMPANY in Benin
Republic
because I travelled to China to visit my friend for the Company's
Annual Board meeting. I will not come back till next month end.
Please note that I did not disclose to the Courier that the content of
the Consignment box is cash money, instead I registered the
consignment as containing some pieces of Art work, this was for security
reason
and to ensure that the Consigned fund reached you safely.
I want You to contact the UNITED PARCEL SERVICE COURIER COMPANY to know when
they will deliver your package(fund). I have paid for the delivering
charges except the keeping fee which they said it can only be paid
when the Deposits is ready for shipment to the Receiver.
Therefore, The only money you have to send to them is the security
keeping fee which is $99.00 Us Dollars to receive your package at your
nominated address.
So be advised to contact the Courier Director through this below
details and reconfirm to him the information and address where to send
the Package to you.
CONTACT; DR. ADRIAN HAMZA (DISTRICT
MANAGER UNITED PARCEL SERVICE COURIER COMPANY)
CONTACT PHONE +229 970 100 15 or (00229)970 100 15
E-mail: upsonline95@yahoo.fr
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the
Security Keeping fee. I Would have given them the address but I later
thought you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake on the
delivery and to be sure the fund is delivered to the nominated address
of your Choice.
Reconfirm below information to the company.
Your Full Name:-----------------------
Your Address:---------------------------
Home telephone:---------------------
Office telephone:---------------------
Your picture:------------------------------
Let me know as soon as you received the consignment(fund) so that I
will be sure you received the total $1,500 000.00
Best Wishes,
Engr.MARCEL BEN (Messr).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam