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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
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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:
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "are expected to pay " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
• 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 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.
  • usa_embassy18@uymail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "john mick" <johnmick4@latinmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:09:03 +0100 (CET)
Subject: FROM UNITED STATE OF AMERICA EMBASSY


=20
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
Emauil:usa.embassy8@asistencia.org

Greeting from USA Embassy,=20
=20
This is to notify you it has been long we have been waiting for you to=
contact us regarding your consignment box which FedEx Express suppose =
to deliver to you but it was on hold by US Department of State Bureau a=
nd requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain from the o=
rigination of the consignment box before it will be released. We are he=
re to inform you that your consignment box has been arrived in US embas=
sy and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is=
given.
=20
1, Your full name=20
=20
2, Your home address=20
=20
3, Your occupation=20
=20
Once you notify us with the following information we will release your =
consignment to you,=20
You can contact us with the following information,=20
Contact person, Hon Roland Mark =20
Email (usa_embassy18@uymail.com or usa.embassy8@asistencia.org)

Website Please click on this link to read important information you sho=
uld see before you travel abroad
Note that you are expected to pay only $185 for clearance certificate a=
nd you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the consig=
nment box in favour of Mr Udealor John as our accountant officer in Ben=
in Republic Send the $185 through western union or Money Gram once you =
receive this mail for immediate release of your consignment box,
=20
Name Udealor.........John
=20
Country..............Benin
=20
Zip Code ...........229
=20
Test Question.........A
=20
Answer.................B
=20
Please treat this as matter of urgency . =20
Note that any uncliam consignment will be return to FedEx Xpress courie=
r company ltd after 3 days.
So you are urgently advise to comply with our demand so that we will re=
lease your consignment.
Regard,
Hon Roland Mark

Public Relation Officer United State Embassy.
FROM UNITED STATE OF AMERICA=20


=20
=20

La carrera hacia la Casa Blanca, a un click de distancia http://www.sta=
rmedia.com/noticias/especiales/gobiernousa.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam