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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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.

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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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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)
  • "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.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22997013583 (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.
  • fedexpressfile@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "AHMED DANGOTE" <ahmeddangote2@ig.com.br>
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:49:31 +0200
Subject: Thanks, For your Past Effort


ALHAJI AND ALHAJI HOLDINGS.
SECRETARY OFFICE.
COUNSELORS AT LAW
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA AGALAN
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Cashier's
Cheque which was given to me by my Boss, Alhaji Dangote to keep till you
contacted me. This Cashier's Cheque worth US$1.5M but I did not heard from
you since that time , then I went and deposited the Cashier's Cheque with
FedEx Courrier company here in Benin Republic , because I am travelling to
Iraq to see my Boss and will not come back till Three months time. You have
to contact the FedEx Courier company to know when they will deliver your
package . I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee.

The only money they will ask you, to send to them is their security keeping
fee which is $165 to received your package. Don't be deceived by any body,
this is the only expenses you will incur and your Cashier's Cheque will be
delivered to your address. This is the Contact Address of Mr Williams
Thompson, Director, FedEx Courier service company, Cotonou, Benin Republic.

E-mail: (fedexpressfile@yahoo.fr)
Phone number +229 97013583. You should try and contact them immediately
because the Cashier's Cheque has validity date as is the case with all
Cashier's cheque all over the World. I gave them your delivering address but
you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid wrongful delivering. And
once more, you should bear in mind that this US$275 is the only expenses you
will incur and the Cashier's Cheque will be delivered to your address as you
provided. Hence get them to give you the information which you will use to
send the US$275 to them and instruct the Director in Cotonou Benin Republic,
Mr Williams Thompson to get the delivery of your Cashier's Cheque to your
address without any further delay.
YOUR FULL NAME-------------
CONTACT ADDRESS------------
TELEPHONE NUMBER-----------
FAX NUMBER----------------- Please, Do Let me know as soon as you receive
your Draft .

Thanks Barrister Ahmed Dangote

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam