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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

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:
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "lagos" (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 fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• 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.
  • +23414973309 (Nigeria, landline)
  • +23412621733 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: MOBIL LOTTERY BOARD <mobil-claims1@live.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:28:00 +0100
Subject:
=?windows-1256?Q?MOBIL_NIGERIA:Your_Parcel_Have_Been_Approved_for_Dispatc?=
=?windows-1256?Q?h_Today!=FE=FE=FE=FE=FE=FE=FE=FE=FE=FE?=




International public company
PO Box 12054, Mobil House,
Lekki Express way, Victoria Island, Lagos,
Nigeria .234 1 262 1640, 234 1 262 1733
http://www.exxonmobilafrica.com

Attn:Beneficiary,

I am in receipt of your mail and I acknowledge your willingness to get back to this office regarding the remittance of your winnings.

In response to your mail,your email address was selected as one of the lucky winners of 2007/2008 Mobil Group(Exxon,Esso Mobil) in conjuction with Texaco and Chevron Oil companies in Nigeria.

This lottery programme was held for the purpose of boosting the industralization in Africa and part of Asia,This was the first of its kind ever since 1999 and this edition of the programme which 200 lucky email addresses was selected from the internet in the online "Second Date Draws".

This is Mobil Group customer's loyalty promotions and you are therefore a winner of the enormous sum of 1,500,000.00 USD which you are to claim in person,your winning bank cheque from the Mobil Group issued by the paying bank has been forwarded to the courier company here in Lagos,Nigeria which is expected of you to make contact immediatelty for immediate clearance and dispatching of your parcel consignments to the address provided.

All the necessary information and instructions as well as requirements for the delivery will be furnished by the courier company (Federal Express Courier).

In the lights of this, you are therefore implored you to immediately make contact following the information and details of contact below:

FedEx Nigeria Head Office70 International Airport RoadMafoluku, Lagos-NigeriaTel.: 234-1-4973309, 4973255, 497354Email: federalexpress@live.com


NOTE:You are to contact the courier company via the email address provided above with registered order number (RC:712383W7383).

Send an email to the courier company and make inquiries on how your parcel will be delivered to you.

You will be required to have the following details and information forwarded to Federal express;the delivery company assigned to the delivery of your Mobil Winning lottery funds.
(1) Complete Names:(2) Mailing/Shipping Address:(3) phone/Fax Number:(4) Scan copy of International Passport/Drivers license/Utility Bills.

As soon as contact is made, have this office informed for update and further correspondence.

We await your swift response.

Regards,
Mrs.Vanessa Vault.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam