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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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. )
  • "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. )
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +22993459404 (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.
  • federalexpress_011@yahoo.co.in (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "anagoton Gazeta.pl" <anagoton@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:10:16 +0200
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX FOR YOUR PACKAGE


Greetings!

We the management and staff of Multi-National Oil Company have your email
address as a winner in our end of year email ballotting promotion and have
deposited a certified Bank draft of $1.200.000.00 United States Dollars
with the FedEx Courier Company for collection, but we did not hear from you
since that time. Then we went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER
SERVICE, West Africa.
What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as soon as
possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the
expiring date. For your information, We have paid for the delivery Charges,
Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that
it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your
Country.

The only charges you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your
Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($185.00 USD) Dollars
only being payment for Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company. Again,
don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $185.00USD
Dollars as stipulated by the company. We would have paid that but they said
no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of any
demurrage. You have to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the
delivery of your Draft with this information bellow:

Contact Person: Mr. Robert White
Email Address:(federalexpress_011@yahoo.co.in )
Tel/FAX: +229 9345 9404

Finally, make sure that you re-confirm your Postal address(s) and Direct
telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask
them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over
there and know when it will get to your address that you would
provide.However, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to
avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee
of only $185.00 US Dollars for their immediate action. You should also let
me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.
CONTACT FEDEX FOR YOUR PACKAGE ask them to give you the tracking number to
enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your
address that you would provide.However, try to contact them as soon as you
receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their
Security Keeping fee of only $185.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.
You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your
Draft.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr Anago Ton
Director

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam