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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "required 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. )
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "courier service" (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)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993455318 (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.
  • fedex.company10@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "philips adams" <philips.adams32@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: fedex.company10@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 23:52:17 +0200
Subject: FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY


MY DEAR FRIEND,

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE PAID THE FEE FOR
YOUR CHEQUE DRAFT. AND I WENT TO THE BANK TO CONFIRM IF THE CHEQUE HAS
EXPIRED OR GETTING NEAR TO EXPIRE AND MRS SANDRA MATTHEW THE DIRECTOR OF
CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO) TOLD ME THAT BEFORE THE CHEQUE
WILL GET TO YOUR HAND THAT IT WILL EXPIRE.

SO I TOLD HIM TO CASH THE US$2.5MILLION US DOLLARS TO CASH PAYMENT TO AVOID
LOSTING THIS FUNDS.
HOWEVER, ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT OF DELIVERING THE US$2.5MILLION US
DOLLARS IN CASH WAS MADE WITH FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. IN COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC, MRS SANDRA MATTHEW THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL BANK OF WEST
AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO) COTONOU HAVE TO PACKAGE THE SUM OF US$2.5MILLION US
DOLLARS IN CASH FOR ME. THEN SHE ALSO AGREED TO HELP ME TO REGISTER THE
CONSIGNMENT BOX WITH FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD.INFACT I'M HAPPY
THAT EVERY MOVEMENT I MADE GOES NORMALLY.

AS FOR OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. THEY
PROMISED THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT WILL LEAVE THIS COUNTRY ON MONDAY NEXT WEEK,
BELLOW IS THE CONTACT OF THE FEDEX SERVICE.

ATTN: DR. INNOCENT CHUKWU
TEL;+229-93-455-318 EMAIL:(fedex.company10@yahoo.fr)
Costomer Care:(fedex.company10@yahoo.fr)
WEBSITE: WWW.FEDEX.COM <http://www.fedex.com/>

PLEASE, SEND THEM YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO ABLE THEM LOCATE YOU
IMMEDIATELY THEY ARRIVED IN YOUR COUNTRY WITH YOUR BOX .THIS IS WHAT THEY
NEED FROM YOU.

1. YOUR FULL NAME.

2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS.

3. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.

4. YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.

5. A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE.

NOTE.FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD.DON'T KNOW THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX.I
REGISTERED IT AS A BOX OF AN FAMILY VALUABLES. THEY DON'T KNOW IT CONTENTS
MONEY. THIS IS TO AVOID THEM DELAYING WITH THE BOX. REMEMBER THAT I HAVE
PAID ALL THE REQUIRED FEE EXCEPT THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE OF $150 DOLLARS
WHISH THEY INSISTED THAT I WILL NOT PAY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN YOU
WILL CONTACT THEM. PLEASE DONT BE CONFUSED BY ANY PERSON OR SEND ANY OTHER
FEE EXCEPT THE $150 DOLLARS.

YOU CALL THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY WITH THIS LINETEL;+229-93-455-318
THANKS AND REMAIN BLESSED.

Dr PHILIPS ADAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam