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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "express courier delivery" (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 united state 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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 "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.
  • +22993124051 (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_expressdelivery93@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "Authur Richards" <athrick1@mobimail.mn>
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:16:20 +0200
Subject: Compliments of the day


Hello My Friend,
Good day. How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have
Paid the fee for your Draft and converting of your cheque into cash which
has been with me for a long time. And I went to the bank to confirm if the
draft has expired or getting near to expire and Mr. Justin Yayi the Director
Bank of Africa told me that
before the draft will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told him to
cash the $1.5million United state dollars to cash payment to avoid losing
this funds under expiration.
However, all the necessary arrangement for delivering the $1.5million
United state dollars in cash was made with FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER DELIVERY
COMPANY
here in Cotonou Benin Republic, Mr.Justin Yayi the Director of Bank of
Africa Cotonou has package the sum of $1.5 million USD in cash for you.
Then he also help me to Register the Consignment with FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER
DELIVERY COMPANY . Infact I thank God very much for all the
movement I made, every thing went normally. As for our agreement with
the FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY they promised that your
consignment will leave this Country on or before 5 days from now, But the
Director of the FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY said that they need
your contacts information's to enable them meet up with you immediately the
Diplomat Agents arrived in your Country.
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.
ATTN: Dr.Usman Bello
Tel.: +229 93-124-051
Email:(fedex_expressdelivery93@yahoo.fr)
Please Send them your contacts 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
7 YOUR OCCUPATION
Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director general of

FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY . Dr.Usman Bello with the address
given to you.
Note this. Courrier Service Company don't know the
contents of the Box. I registered it as a BOX of Africa cloths. They
did not know the contents was money. this is to avoid them delaying with the

BOX. Don't let them know that box contents money ok. I am waiting for your
urgent response. You can even call the Director of FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER
DELIVERY COMPANY with this line: Tel.:+229 93-124-051
Regards
Paul Good

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam