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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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• What can you do when you receive 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)
  • "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.
  • +22993156635 (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.
  • gscheadoffice31@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: john ugo <john_ugo015@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <gscheadoffice31@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 05:54:21 +0100
Subject: Contact them immediately and get back to me



Dear Friend, It has been long we communicate last,am so sorry for the delay, i am talking of your cheque of ($1.5 Million USD) that my boss asked me to mail to you as soon as you request for, but due to some minure issue you fails to respond at the aproprate time, and presently the cheque is with me here in BENIN REPUBLIC.
Though i had a new contact from a friend of mine who works with one security company here in BENIN REPUBLIC that will assit you on delivery your cheque at your door step with a cheeper rate, which the company said that it will cost you sum of $85,so you have to register with them now.
Below is thier email address,
gscheadoffice31@yahoo.fr ) and the Directors name is ( Dr kelly landers). Telephone.......+229-93-15-66-35Fax.......+229-98-90-577 Make sure you contact them as soon as possible, meanwhile i will go right away to the security company and submit your cheque with them, and i would like you contact them for more information and clearification with thier email address and phone numbers above. I will like to hear from you as soon as you recieved your cheque.
Thank you.
Mr John Ugo

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam