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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.

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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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22993476951 (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.
  • upexpress_up12@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mike Kerom" <mikekerom@btconnect.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:14:00 -0000
Subject: contact upexpress_up12






SECRETARY OFFICE. COUNSELORS AT LAW)
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
Dear Friend
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft but did not heard from you since that time ,then I went and deposited the Draft with UpExpress Courier company here in Benin Republic , because I travelled to Iraq to see my boss and will not come back till next month end. You have to contact the UpExpress Courier companyto know when they will deliver your package .I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee.
The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee which is $85. to received your package.Don't be deceived by any body This is there Contact Address Contact Dr.Kerom Mike Director UpExpress Courier company Benin Republic.
E-mail;(upexpress_up12@yahoo.fr)
Phone number +229 93-47-69-51
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fee.I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake in the delivering.
Let me know as soon as you receive your Draft .
Thanks
Secretary
Dr mikekerom

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam