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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:
  • "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.
  
• 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.
• 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.
  • +22993558745 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: mark bello <markbello200@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 15:49:49 +0100 (CET)
Subject: URGENT RESPOND (+22993558745 OR 22993558745)


DEAR TIBELDA BECKEN,
THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL,THE CONTENT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD.THE COST OF
SENDING THE DRAFT VIA TOPCLASS PACIFIC COURIER SERVICES (TPCS) IS
$245
AND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THE MONEY I WILL DELIVER YOUR DRAFT TO YOUR
NOMINATEED HOUSE ADDRESS.SEND THE MONEY THROUGH WESTERN
UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW TO HASTEN THE WHOLE
PROCEEDURES.

RECEIVER:AUGUSTINE EKWEOLU.

ADDRESS:20 JONQUET ROUT

CITY:COTONOU

COUNTRY:BENIN REPUBLIC

SENDER:NAME..........

TEXT QUEST AND ANSWER

ENDEAVOUR TO SEND THE CONTROL NUMBER(MTCN) OF THE MONEY TO ABLE ME
RECIEVE THE MONEY AND DELIVER YOUR DRAFT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY.YOU CAN
DIRECTLY REACH ME THROUGH THIS PHONE NUMBER +229-935-587-45.
REGARDS AND GODS BLESS YOU.
MR MARK BELLO.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam