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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
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• 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:
  • "storage 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. )
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • "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 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.
  • ups12express@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "JAMES BROWN" <mr12346b@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 14:52:39 +0200
Subject: Attn:Dear


*Attn:Dear*

*Your bank draft at value of $3.5Million Us Dollars are still here about to
expire in our storage department.Kindly reconfirm your address for us to
deliver the package immediately. Also give us your telephone numbers to
contact you upon our arrival in your country. Meanwhile the storage fee is
equivalent of $280.00, kindly get back to us.*

*Send the money to:
Receiver's Name: George Lukas
Address: Carre 190 Zogbo
City: Cotonou
Country: Benin
Password: Springtime
Mtcn
Money Gram or western union is good for you,find your close agent and get
back to us immediately with the payment information.
Contact Person: Edward Joe
Email: **ups12express@yahoo.com* <ups12express@yahoo.com>

*We wait for your immediate reaction.
Thanks
Mr James Brown *

*
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam