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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:
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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.

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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • hallmarkcouriercompanys2007@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: edward_ben1451@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:47:24 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONTACT=20THE=20COURIER=20COMPANY=20NOW=20FOR=20YOUR=20PACKAGE?=


Hello Dear,

I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of Eko Bank Benin
told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire.So i told
him to cash $800,000.00
all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $800,000.00 in cash was
made with HALLMARK COURIER COMPANYS.
This in the information they need to delivery your package to you.
DR,LARRY BELLO(+22993474629)

EMAIL:(hallmarkcouriercompanys2007@yahoo.fr)
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER.
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
Please make sure you send this needed info's to the Director general of
HALLMARK COURIER COMPANYS DR,LARRY BELLO with the address given to you.
Note.HALLMARK COURIER COMPANYS don't know the contents of the Box. I registered
it as a BOX of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents money. this
is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. don't let them know that is money
that is in that Box.
Sincerely
BARRISTER EDWARD BEN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam