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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.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• 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.
  • +22993899815 (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.
  • utccourier111@ubbi.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: DR STEVE BROWN <dr.steve.brown@orange.nl>
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:07:35 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CONTACT UTC COURIER COMPANY FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT.






Cotonou Benin Republic
To All Beneficiaries


FROM THE DESK OF:
DR STEVE BROWN

FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

Attention: Dear Beneficiary,

This is to officially inform you that we have verified your lottery/ inheritance file and found out that why you have not received your lottery payment is because you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect of your lottery/inheritance payment.Secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with none officials in the bank in all your attempt to secure the release of the fund to you. I wish to advise you that such an illegal act have to stop if you wish to receive your payment since we have decided to bring a solution to your problem. Right now we have arranged your payment through our cash payment center in conjuction with the USA High Commission to carry out immediate release of your fund, that is the latest instruction from the President Federal Republic of BENIN.

So the Instruction has been passed to Utc Courier and Diplomatic Company to carry out the delivery of your consignment which contains $1,200,000.00 US cash. All the necessary arrangement for the delivery of the $1,200,000.00 in cash has been concluded with Utc Courier and Diplomatic Company Benin Republic.

Please write to them with your contact details with given
address below.

Rev. George Uka
EMAIL: utccourier111@ubbi.com
Phone +229 93 89 98 15

Note: The Diplomat Who Will Deliver The Consignment To Any Place Of Your Choice Does Not Know The Original Content Of The Box. We Made Them To Understand That The Box Contains A Sensitive Photographic Film Material Instead Of Money For Security Reasons. You are not required to let the courier company be aware of the content of the consignment.

Send them your contact information to enable them locate you immediately they arrive in your country with your BOX .These are the information they would require from you. Be aware that the delivery fee has already been taken care of.

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 OR YOUR DRIVER'S LISCENCE
6.YOUR AGE----------------------------------------
7.COUNTRY------------------------------------------


Best regards
Dr Steve Brown.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam