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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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. )
  • "cashier's check" (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.
  • +22997150853 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "TRUST LINK COURIER SERVICE" <officedepts@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: trustlinkcourierservice@live.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:51:17 +0100
Subject: YOUR AWAITING PAYMENT.


HELLO DEAR ,

THEIR IS GOOD NEWS TODAY, BECAUSE WE JUST RECEIVED INSTRUCTION FROM
BARRISTER, WILLIAM COLE, TO CONTACT YOU TODAY.

AS YOU KNOW, BEFORE BARRISTER, WILLIAM COLE, LEFT THIS COUNTRY HE DEPOSITED
A CASHIER'S CHECK OF (800,000.00) EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND USD WITH US, HOPING
THAT YOU WILL CONTACT THIS COMPANY AND RECEIVED IT BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE
BEEN WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU BUT THERE WAS KNOW CONTACT FROM YOU.

THE GOOD NEWS TODAY IS THAT BARRISTER WILLIAM COLE, HAVE CONTACTED US BACK
WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS ASKING THIS COMPANY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU,
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN RESTLESSLY WAITING FOR YOUR MAIL.

ACTUALLY YOU ARE THE RIGHTFUL BENEFICIARY OF THE CASHIER CHECK, WITH CODE
(2661428) AS IT WAS IN OUR RECORD, KINDLY FILL THE BELOW FORM AND REPLY BACK
ASAP, CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU REPLY THIS MAIL TO ENABLE US ACT FAST.

RECONFIRM THIS BELOW INFORMATION BACK TO US.

1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3. YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER:

BARRISTER WILLIAM COLE, HAS PAID FOR THE DELIVERING CHARGES OF 475 UNITED
STATE DOLLARS SINCE LAST YEAR, THE ONLY MONEY YOU HAVE TO PAY NOW IS THE
SECURITY KEEPING FEE WHICH IS ONLY 85 US DOLLARS, AND YOU RECEIVED YOUR
CHECK, DON'T BE DECEIVED BY ANYBODY, SO RECONFIRM IN OTHER FOR YOU RECEIVED
YOUR CHECK.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.AS WE AWAIT TO RECEIVE YOUR REPLY ON THIS EMAIL
ADDRESS:(trustlinkcourierservice@live.com)
MR. STEPHEN.
TRUST LINK COURIER SERVICE.
PHONE: +229-9715-0853

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam