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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.

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:
  • "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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • +22993016611 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Peter Eze <barrister.peter71@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: united_state_parcel_service200@live.fr
Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:44:49 +0100
Subject: CONTACT UPS COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR PACKAGE.




Dear Beneficiary;

I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft. Because the manager of Diamond
Bank Benin Republic told me that before the check will get to you that it
will expire. So I told him to cash the draft $15.5m United State dollars,
however all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $15.5m in cash wa=
s
made with UPS shipping Courier Company (United State Parcel Service
Shipping Courier Company Benin Republic). Note that every fee has been pa=
id
except their security keeping fee. The only money you have to send to the=
m
is their security keeping fee which is $135.00 Us Dollars to received you=
r
package.

BELOW IS THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE COURIER COMPANY.

ATTEN: DR. VICTOR BROWN
E-mail :(united_state_parcel_service200@live.fr)
Phone number:+229 9301 6611

Please, Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX. This is what they
need from you.

1. YOUR FULL NAME......
2.HOME
ADDRESS..........
3.CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER......
4.CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE..........
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE..........
6.YOUR COUNTRY....................

Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director general of ups
shipping Courier Company DR. VICTOR BROWN with the address given to you.
Note; The Ups Courier Company doesn't know the real content of your Box. =
I
registered it as a Box of an Africa cloth. They don't know that it contai=
ns
money. This is to avoid them from delaying delivery of the Box. Don't let
them know that is money that is in that Box. I am waiting for your urgent
response. Contact the ups courier company immediately.

Thanks and Remain Blessed.
SECRETARY HECTOR BENITEZ.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam