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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "insurance fee " (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. )
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22993569297 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • icexpress_services@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: mypinfos@freenet.de
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:39:45 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THEM NOW


(SECRETARY OFFICE)
BP 1818 COCOTOMY ABEDMEY.
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN


Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you to come down here to pick
up your Bank Draft
since, but I did not hear from you, then I went and
deposited the Draft
with a Courier company named INTERCONTINENTAL
COURIER EXPRESS, because I
am travelling to return next month end. You
are to contact
INTERCONTINENTAL COURIER EXPRESS immediately to know
when they will
deliver your package.

The delivery charges and
insurance fee has been paid. The only money you
have to send to them is
there security keeping fee of $110 to receive your
package.

Don\'t
be deceived by any body below is there Contact Information.

ATTEN:
Mr. Henry Brown
Customer Service Manager: INTERCONTINENTAL COURIER
EXPRESS
Address: BP 117 Yenawa, Cotonou, République Du Bénin.
TEL:
+229 935 69 297
EMAIL: icexpress_services@yahoo.fr

Contact them as
soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping
fee. Finally,
you have to reconfirm this information, namely; your
complete names,
phone number and residence address to them again to avoid
any mistake
in the delivery.
Let me know as soon as you receive your Draft.

Regards,
Mr. Peter Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam