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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22998655324 (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.
  • dr.donpedro@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: dr.donpedro@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 19:50:18 +0100
Subject: Contact The Company Today


Good News!!!

I have register your Cheque Draft but the manager of EcoBank Bénin told me
that before the cheque will get to you that it will expire.

Then I ask him to cash $4,750.000.00 {FOUR MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY
UNITED STATE DOLLARS}The director of Delivery Department TNT COMPANY has
promise to made all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
$4,750.000.00 in cash as a package Trunk Box.

But please note the fact that he does not know what is in the package,for
security reason, And you have to make sure the box must not be scan for once
they scan it then the company will know the real content.

I will be traveling for that project of the government as I told once am
back from germany I will alert you to know when to other my boys to send the
remaining to you.

This in the information they need for delivery your package to you.
Your Contact,
NAME: DOCTOR. DON PEDRO
EMAIL: dr.donpedro@hotmail.com
PHONE: +229 98 65 53 24
YOUR FULL NAME__________________________
COUNTRY/CITY__________________________
DELIVERY ADDRESS______________________________
YOUR CELL PHONE___________________
OCCUPATION & AGE____________
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY {if available}

NOTE: The TNT didn't know the real content of the Trunk Box I registered the
Box as an African clothes, therefore you are NOT in any means to let the
content of the PACKAGE to TNT.

Thanks for all your effort in the past and I want you to know that am a man
of my words that why I will most send your own share to you.

Sincerely,
Engr.Wartz Goldery

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam