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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • centralexpress65@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "johnzik23 Gazeta.pl" <johnzik23@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 12:37:16 +0200
Subject: CONTACT THIS COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR CHECK DRAFT


CONTACT THIS COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR CHECK DRAFT
My Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you since regarding your Cashier Bank Draft
worth USD$1.2Million before I leave Cotonou Benin Republic but you did
not show face and I did not heard from you since that time, then I
went and deposited the Draft with CENTRAL MAIL EXPRESS & DIPLOMATIC
COURIER COMPANY there in my country Benin Republic.

Please for your informations ,I travelled to Japan to see my boss as
he instructed me and will not come back till next month end, Please
You have to contact the Impex Security & Diplomatic Courier Company to
know when they will deliver your package to you there in your country,
I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee.

The only money you have to send to them is their security keeping fee
which is $95.00 Us Dollars to received your package I agreed with them
that you will pay the $95.00 Don't be deceived by any body because I
paid for the delivery fee befor e t h ey accepted the Cashier Bank
draft and was told that after one week you will pay the Security
keeping fee which is only $95.00 , DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY IS :
Mr.John David.E-mail: centralexpress65@yahoo.fr

Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the
security keeping fee.I gave them your delivering address but you have
to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake in the delivering.
Let me know as soon as you receive your Cashier Bank Draft,And I am
very sorry for any inconvinence this might have caused you but
remember that it was'nt my fault because I waited for you to come down
before I was called by my Director and don't be deceived by anyone ,
The amount you have to send to them is $95.00 only.

Thanks
Mr.John Zik

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam