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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (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.
  • +22996220361 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR,MARK UGO"<markugo93@yahoo.com.co>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:48:39 -0800
Subject: ****SPAM(14.3)**** CONTACT UPS FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE NOW


Spam detection software, running on the system "portal.bk-werne.de", has
identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message
has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label
similar future email. If you have any questions, see
postmaster for details.

Content preview: DEAR FRIEND, I didn't hear from you since for your confirmable
check of 1.2million USD which i kept for you and i went and deposited it
with UPS COURIER SERVICE. So contact them now. Directors Name: Sir.Raymond
Bassey Email ( upscourierservice2009@live.com ) Telephone:+229 96220361 [...]


Content analysis details: (14.3 points, 4.0 required)

pts rule name description
---- ---------------------- --------------------------------------------------
-1.4 ALL_TRUSTED Passed through trusted hosts only via SMTP
2.3 SUBJ_ALL_CAPS Subject is all capitals
3.3 DATE_IN_FUTURE_12_24 Date: is 12 to 24 hours after Received: date
2.4 MILLION_USD BODY: Talks about millions of dollars
2.6 DEAR_FRIEND BODY: Dear Friend? That's not very dear!
0.8 MSOE_MID_WRONG_CASE MSOE_MID_WRONG_CASE
4.2 FORGED_MUA_OUTLOOK Forged mail pretending to be from MS Outlook

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam