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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
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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us dollars" (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. )
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • worlduniversalcouriercompany1973@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: faith jones <faithjones43@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <worlduniversalcouriercompany1973@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:37:22 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THE WORLD UNIVERSAL COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR PACKAGE!!



Dear Friend, I have registered your Cheque Draft with the world universal courier company.but the manager of financial trust bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire.
So I told him to cash $1.5million US Dollars and all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.5million in cash was made with WORLD UNIVERSAL COURIER COMPANY.
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.
DR.MR DAWSON HOWARD.TEl:+229 93-84 36-38EMAIL:worlduniversalcouriercompany1973@yahoo.fr
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what they need from you.
1.YOUR FULL NAME____________2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS __________________3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER________________4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE___________________5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE _______________6.YOUR AGE _______________
Thanks And Remain Blessed,
Mrs Faith Jones.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam