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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)
  • "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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993201595 (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.
  • fffedexexpress@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jimpeters20@freenet.de
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:59:36 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THE FEDEX COURIER COMPANY


Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your
Confirmable Bank Draft cheque of $800,000. United States Dollars, but I
did not heard from you since, for a couple of Months now.
Then, I went
to the bank to confirm if the draft is getting near to expire and
Mr.Wilson the Director of Financial Bank of Africa told me that before
the draft cheque will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told
him to cash the $800,000. USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash payment to
avoid losing this funds under expiration as I will be out of the country
for a 2 Months Course and I will not come back till ending of May
2008.
What you have to do now is to contact FEDEX COURIER SERVICES as
soon as possible to know when they will deliver your Consignment to you
because of the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the
delivering Charge, Insurance premium.
The only money you will send to
the FEDEX COURIER SERVICES BENIN REPUBLIC to deliver your Consignment
direct to your postal Address in your country is only ($110.00 US) One
Hundred and Ten United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of
the Courier Company so far.
Directors Name: Dr. Jim Kater
Companys
Name:FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY
Email Address: (
fffedexexpress@yahoo.fr )
Tel/Phone: +229 9320 1595
Finally, Do not
allowe the Fedex to know the Content of the Consignment Box because if
they do know, it will cost you more money ok, and make sure that you
reconfirm your Postal address Full Name and Direct telephone number to
them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery your Consignment to your
Destinated Address.I am waiting for your urgent response today.
Yours
Faithfully,
Rev. John Peters,
CONTACT THE FEDEX COURIER COMPANY

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam