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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:

• 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)
  • "does not know the contents of the box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +22993000285 (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.
  • excelcouriercompany21@yahoo.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mercy Johnson <mercyj25@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <excelcouriercompany21@yahoo.pl>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:09:12 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY//



DEAR FRIEND,HOW ARE YOU DOING? I WRITE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE REGISTERED YOUR CHEQUE DRAFT, BUT THE MANAGER OF FINANCIAL TRUST BANK BENIN TOLD ME THAT BEFORE THE CHEQUE WILL GET TO YOU THAT IT WILL EXPIRE.SO I TOLD HIM TO CASH THE $1.5 MILLION USDOLLARS AND ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT OF DELIVERING THE $1.5 MILLION USD IN CASH WAS MADE WITH EXCEL COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.FURTHERMORE, WRITE A LETTER OF APPLICATION TO THE GIVEN ADDRESS BELOW.DIRECTOR NAME: DR.MR, ABRAHAM MARTINS.COMPANY PHONE NUMBER: +229-930-002-85.COMPANY E-MAIL: (excelcouriercompany21@yahoo.pl).HOWEVER, SEND THEM YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO ENABLE THEM LOCATE YOU IMMEDIATELY THEY ARRIVE IN YOUR COUNTRY WITH YOUR BOX.BELOW 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 ID___________________________________6.YOUR AGE_____________________________________________7.COUNTRY______________________________________________(NOTE). THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX. I REGISTERED IT AS A BOX OF AN AFRICA CLOTHS, THEY DON'T KNOW IT CONTAINED MONEY. THIS IS TO AVOID THEM DELAYING WITH THE BOX SO DON'T LET THEM KNOW THAT IS MONEY THAT IS IN THE BOX.YOURS,MRS MERCY JOHNSON.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam