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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +2348077385439 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Ali Ammouri <aammouri@hu.edu.jo>
Reply-To: benzj49@yahoo.com.mx
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:05:22 -0700
Subject: Contact Mr. Gregory Hats


Greetings!



=A0I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmed ab=
le

BankDraft of =24800=2E000=2E00 United States Dollars=2C but I did not he=
ar from =


you sincethat time=2E Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX

COURIER SERVICE=2C IN WEST=A0 AFRICA=2C I traveled out of the country fo=
r some

Months Course and I willnot come back until end of December=2E



=A0What you have to do now is to contact the FedEx COURIER SERVICE as so=
on as

possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of t=
he

expiring date=2E For your information=2CI have paid for the delivering C=
harge=2C

Insurance=A0 premium and Clearance=A0 Certificate Fee of the Cheque show=
ing

that itis not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your

Country=2E



Again=2C I would have paid for Security Keeping fee but they said no bec=
ause

they=A0 don=27t know when you will contact them and in case of demur rag=
e=2EYou

have to contact the FED EX COURIER SERVICE now=A0 with your contact deta=
il

for thedelivery of your=A0 Draft with this information below=3A



Contact Mr=2E Gregory Hats OF THE FED EX COURIER SERVICE

Email Address=3A mrgregoryhats=40live=2Ecom

Telephone=3ATel=3A +2348077385439

=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 +2348024121996



there and know when it will get to your address=2E Let me repeat again=2C=
try to

contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay=
and

remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of =24165=2E00US Dollars=
for

their immediate action=2E



You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Dr=
aft=2E



Yours Faithfully=2C

Mrs=2E Joanna Benz

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam