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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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. )
• 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.
  • +22997849735 (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.
  • usps_delivery@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Thomas=20Clarke?= <tclarke952@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: tclarke750@live.com
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:50:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: NOTE AND CONTACT THEM URGENTLY


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:tclarke952@yahoo.com.co



- Dear Friend, It has been long we communicated last. I am so sorry for the delay, I want to Inform you that your draft of ($2,500,000.00) which my boss asked me to mail to you is still with me but due to some circumstances you failed to respond at the appropriate time and presently the draft is with me here in Benin Republic. Notwithstanding, I have new contact from a friend of mine who works with one security company (USPS Courier Company) here in Benin Republic that will deliver your draft to your door step at a cheeper rate as the company said that it will only cost you the sum of US$170. On this note, I want you to contact them and register with them now so that your draft will be delivered to you without further delay. While contacting them, include your phone number and address to avoid wrongful delivery. You should also tell the company to give you the Information on how you will send the delivery fee of $170 immediately you contact them for the delivery of your draft of $2,500,000.00 to your door step. Here is their contact information; Email address: usps_delivery@hotmail.com , Contact person: ( Dr. Joshua Amara), Direct Cell.......+229-97-849735, Fax...................+229-620 123. Please do get back to me on my private email: tclarke750@live.com as soon as you have contacted the security company so that I can submit your draft to them immediately. Thank you. Mr. Thomas Clarke.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam