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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
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: frank agba <frankagba50@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:46:25 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Mr.Frank Agba


I received your email.Yes, my boss left a cashier cheque of $800,000,00, which he instructed me to send to you as soon as you request for it.currently the cheque is here with me in Benin Republic and i will mail the cheque to you from here as soon as we arranged for the mailing process.

For your information, you are to bear the cost of mailing the cheque to you, which is going to cost you $150 as the cheque will be mail via diplomatic courier servce and my boss did not leave any money for the mailing of the cheque.

So, I am expecting you to send me the above mentioned amount for the cost of mailing it and as well re-comfirm your mailing address so that I will mail it to you immediately I receive the money from you.

Send the money in with the below informations THROUGH WESTERN UNION,
Name......................... EMMANUEL EDOCHIE
City....... ....................COTONOU
Country......................BENIN REPUBLIC
Text question.............HOW LONG
Answer....................TWO DAYS

And send other payment information such as sender's name and control number enable us pick it from the western union office here.
Thanks.

Waiting for your urgent reply.
Sincerely regards
Mr.Frank Agba



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam