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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Anthony Udoka" <anthonyudoka@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:20:38 GMT
Subject: I am waiting for your response

Attn:Beneficiary,

Be it informed that due to your inability to comply with the
continental bank Benin directives for the dispatching of
your ATM card which made me to have a meeting with the board
of directors of the bank regarding this issue and they told
me that they are commencing their audit of the year by
Friday and if that is done, that means you have lost your
money to federal government of Benin.

Meanwhile, after the meeting, we come in conclusion that
your money will be converted into cash so that your payment
will be made to you in cash which will be delivered by
diplomatic means and all arrangement regarding the delivery
of your money by courier agent has be concluded as I receive
a call this morning from the bank that your money has been
packaged into iron sealed boxes for onward delivery to your
destination.

Therefore, you are to send to me your current address where
you wish the courier agent to deliver the boxes to avoid any
mistake as the courier agent is going to depart Cotonou
international airport exactly 9.30 tomorrow with Air France
HL302 on transit to London via your country and be aware
that we registered your consignment with the courier company
as a government material sending to our client in abroad, so
try to exclude the mind of the courier attendant from the
real content of the boxes to avoid discrepancy as we paste
on the consignment Non. Inspection

Attach is the airway bill receipt as I am waiting for your
response

Yours sincerely,

Dr.Anthony Udoka.
Personal adviser to the president on financial matters.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam