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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• 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)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +22993694991 (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.
  • fdxshippmentco@hotmail.fr
  • 3afdxshippmentco@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "karen stettler" <karenstettler3@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 16:24:14 +0100
Subject: Here is your shippment CODE AWB 33XZS


ODAWA & COUNSELORS AT L
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY
WEST AFRICA COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
EMAIL:fdxshippmentco@hotmail.fr <EMAIL%3Afdxshippmentco@hotmail.fr>)
PHONE:+229 9369 4991

Greetings!

I have been waiting for you ever since to contact me for your Confirmable
Bank Draft of $3.5 Million United States Dollars, but I haven't heard from
you since that time.

So I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER SHIPPMENT COMPANY,
West Africa. Meanwhile, I've travelled out of the country for a 3 Months
Course and will not be back till the end of August. What I would advise you
to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SHIPPMENT COMPANYas soon as
possible to know when they would commence the delivery of your package to
you because of the expiry date.
For your information, I have paid for the delivery Charges of the draft.

The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SHIPPMENT COMPANY to
deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($105 )
US Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.

I would have paid that but I was denied of it as they argued that they don't
know when you will
contact them in the case of any demurrage. You have to contact the FEDEX
COURIER SHIPPMENT COMPANY now for the delivery of your Draft with this
information below;

Contact Person: Dr.Hassan Raji
Email Address: ( fdxshippmentco@hotmail.fr)
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct
telephone number tothem again to avoid any mistake on the delivery and ask
them to inform you of when your package would get to your address once it is
on transit.

Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to
avoid further delay
and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $105 US Dollars for
their immediate
action.

And also ask them to send you the tracking numer of your package ones they
move toyourcountry to able you tracking to know where and when it
will arrive ok.You should email me as soon as you receive your Draft.
SHIPPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/
TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/
CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Karen Stettler.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam