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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:
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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 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.
  • +229975274891 (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.
  • unitedstateparcel_service@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: georwilliams01@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:11:19 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONTACT=20THE=20USPS=20IMMEDIATELY=20?=

Attention My Good Friend,

I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of
Financial Trust Bank Plc Benin told me that before the check will get to
you that it will expire.So i told him to cash the $850,000.00 all the necessary
arrangement of delivering the $850,000.00 in cash was made with UNITED STATE
PARCEL SERVICE BENIN Below is the needed information to enable the shipping
company deliver your fund to you immediately. the only fee you have to pay
them is $97 usd that they will use to obtain insurance certificate and claims
of affidavite that will prove that the parcel that consist total sum of
$850.000.00 belong to you be rest assure that all other fees have been paid
by me.

UNITED STATE PARCEL SERVICE BENIN REPUBLIC
REV DR VICTOR BROWN .
EMAIL( unitedstateparcel_service@yahoo.fr
CONTACT NUMBER 00229-9752-7489
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER.
5.A COPY OF YOUR I.D
6.COMPANY REGISTRATION NO EG58945
7.CODE NMBER 0140479
Please make sure you send this needed infors to the Director general of
UNITED STATE PARCEL SERVICE Dr Victor Brown with the address given to
you. Note ;The UNITED STATE PARCEL SERVICE don't know the contents of the
Box. I registered it as a Box of family valuable belongs. They don'tknow
it contents Money. this is to avoid them delaying with the Box. don't let
them know that is money that is in that Box. You can as well call him immediately
you received this email with thenumber given to you.
I am waiting for your urgent response.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Secretary George Williams .

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam